India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will travel to Seoul, South Korea on December 28-29 to hold a Joint Commission meeting with her South Korean counterpart Yun Byung-se. The joint dialogue will be held on December 29 and is likely see the two sides comprehensively review the Strategic Partnership with a focus on boosting economic ties.
With negotiations on a nuclear pact with Japan not making much headway, India may take this opportunity to further the talks for implementation of the civil nuclear agreement with Korea, which was signed in 2011. Significantly, a Korean delegation visited Mumbai last week to discuss possible cooperation in different areas of nuclear energy with the Department of Atomic Energy.
Apart from the discussion on regional and international issues of mutual interest, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on ways to add content in key areas-including political, security, trade, investment, consular, scientific and cultural spheres.
Swaraj’s visit will also focus on preparing for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to South Korea, which is being looked at in early 2015.
Sushma Swaraj will also make a courtesy call on President Park.