President Lee holds phone calls with leaders of Australia, Vietnam

And President also continues to engage with his foreign counterparts, today holding phone calls with the leaders of Australia and Vietnam.

Our Presidential Office correspondent Song Yoo-jin reports.

It was a busy day of diplomacy for President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday, holding phone calls with the leaders of two of South Korea's comprehensive strategic partners.

In the afternoon, President Lee spoke with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

According to the Presidential Office, they pledged to strengthen cooperation in national defense, clean energy, and critical minerals, building on the long-standing trust and solidarity forged since Australia's participation in the Korean War in the 1950s.

They also discussed working together to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and to achieve meaningful progress on the North Korea nuclear issue.

Cooperation for the successful hosting of the 2025 APEC Summit in Gyeongju City was mentioned as well, as both countries are founding members of the regional forum.

Both sides agreed to hold in-person talks to discuss concrete ways.

Earlier in the day, the South Korean leader spoke with Vietnamese President Luong Cuong.

Similarly, their focus was on further developing their partnership.

"The two leaders agreed to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in strategic sectors such as high-speed rail and nuclear energy."

President Lee requested Vietnam's continued interest and support for Korean companies operating there, to which President Cuong responded positively.

Cuong also invited Lee to Vietnam, to which he said he looks forward to in-depth discussions to strengthen bilateral ties during his visit.

"These are President Lee's fifth and sixth phone conversations with world leaders since taking office last Wednesday.

His diplomatic efforts continue ahead of next week's G7 Summit in Canada, where he's expected to meet several of the leaders he spoke to, face-to-face.

Song Yoo-jin, Arirang News.