Seoul/New Delhi, March 10 (NationPress) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar engaged in a phone call with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, on Tuesday to deliberate on the strengthening of bilateral relations and the prevailing situation in West Asia.

During their discussion, Cho highlighted that the two summits conducted last year, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Korea-India Special Strategic Partnership, have fostered a unique connection between the two leaders. He emphasized the need for this year's summit-level interactions to elevate bilateral relations and yield concrete outcomes that could positively impact the lives of their citizens, according to a statement from South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EAM Jaishankar concurred with Cho's insights and articulated India's eagerness to advance bilateral cooperation through proactive high-level exchanges this year, particularly focusing on enhancing strategic economic collaboration between the two nations.

The two ministers also exchanged insights regarding the circumstances on the Korean Peninsula and within the region, concentrating on the Middle East situation, which significantly affects global security and economic stability. They agreed to sustain close communication to implement national security strategies in light of developments in the Middle East, as stated by South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After their conversation, EAM Jaishankar shared on X: "A productive dialogue with FM Cho Hyun of RoK. We discussed advancing our bilateral agenda and the situation in West Asia, including its implications for energy supply."

This discussion took place against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in West Asia, which escalated following the joint strikes by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28.

Last month, India and South Korea conducted their sixth Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD), during which they assessed their bilateral relations, including discussions on high-level exchanges, economic and trade issues, security and defense, science and technology, as well as cultural and interpersonal connections.

Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), P. Kumaran, and South Korea's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Park Yoon-joo, co-chaired this significant meeting.

According to India's Embassy in South Korea, "Secretary (East) P. Kumaran co-chaired the 6th Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue (FPSD) with Park Yoon-joo, reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral relations and sharing perspectives on high-level exchanges, economic and commercial matters, security, defense, science and technology, and cultural and people-to-people connections."

They also exchanged viewpoints on issues of regional and global importance and committed to further strengthen the Special Strategic Partnership.

In November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, marking their second meeting in 2025 after their discussions at the G7 Summit in Canada.

PM Modi shared on X: "Had a fruitful meeting with President Lee Jae-Myung of the Republic of Korea at the Johannesburg G20 Summit. This is our second meeting this year, reflecting the robust momentum in our Special Strategic Partnership. We exchanged views on further enhancing our economic and investment ties."