Mexican President: "Korean Companies to Join 'Plan Mexico'"... "Anticipating BTS's Return in 2027"

President Sheinbaum Holds Joint Press Conference with President Lee
Adoption of the 2026-2030 Korea-Mexico Joint Action Plan
Seventeen Cooperation Agreements on Economy, AI, Defense, and More
"Deepening the First Strategic Partnership in Latin Am

President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to Mexico, and President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico have agreed to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation from economic and advanced technology sectors to defense and culture, based on the "2026–2030 Korea-Mexico Joint Action Plan." President Sheinbaum specifically announced her intention to promote Korean participation in "Plan Mexico," the Mexican government’s industrial development policy, in order to enhance the production capabilities of local SMEs and microenterprises. The two leaders also decided to pursue the establishment of a Korean cultural hub in Mexico.

President Lee Jae-myung and Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, are posing for a commemorative photo after a joint press conference at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on the 24th (local time). 2026.9.25 Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Sheinbaum, following her summit with President Lee at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on the 24th (local time), stated at a joint press conference, “We had a very productive and friendly meeting,” adding, “We confirmed that both countries share a vision of joint prosperity.”

President Sheinbaum noted that Korea and Mexico were the first to establish a strategic partnership among Latin American countries in 2005, and expressed her commitment to deepen this relationship further. According to Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two countries established their strategic partnership in 2005.

In terms of economic cooperation, there was an emphasis on expanding alignment between Korean companies and “Plan Mexico.” President Sheinbaum said, “We agreed to advance support from Korean companies under the vision of Plan Mexico to strengthen the productivity of Mexican SMEs and microenterprises,” and added, “We will maximize the complementary structure of our economies to deliver mutually beneficial results.”

Accordingly, the two leaders adopted the "2026–2030 Korea-Mexico Joint Action Plan." On the occasion of the summit, a total of 17 cooperation documents were concluded between government ministries and agencies, covering a wide range of areas such as economic and development cooperation, academics, culture, tourism, science and technology, intellectual property, agriculture, public security, and defense. Among the agreements exchanged before the two leaders were seven documents, which included scholarships and academic exchanges, cultural and tourism collaboration, economic, industrial, and resource cooperation, customs, and concessional finance.

President Sheinbaum also designated future mobility, artificial intelligence (AI), digital technology, science, and higher education as key areas for cooperation. The plan is to leverage Korea's industrial and technological strengths in combination with Mexico's geographical advantage as a bridge between North and Latin America, thereby enhancing competitiveness, fostering collaboration between research institutions, and cultivating talent. Previously, the two countries have discussed prioritizing AI, digital governance, and aerospace as key fields in the joint action plan.

Cultural exchange was also an agenda item during the summit. President Sheinbaum referred to the enthusiasm for K-pop and K-food among Mexican youth and stated that the two countries would pursue the establishment of a permanent Korean cultural hub to continuously promote Korean culture. Korea and Mexico also plan to expand co-creation and joint production in the cultural industries, foster talent, and hold working-level discussions on the effective use of cultural facilities.

Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, is speaking at a joint press conference with President Lee Jae-myung held at the Presidential Palace in Mexico City on the 24th (local time). 2026.9.25 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap News Photographer

President Sheinbaum also mentioned the anticipation for Stray Kids’ performances in Mexico, as well as the expected return visit by BTS in 2027. President Sheinbaum had previously made public the plan for BTS to visit Mexico in 2027 back in May.

She added, “We have also agreed to explore ways to more actively introduce Mexican culture to Korea,” and expressed hope that this visit will serve as an opportunity to further develop the friendship between the two countries, which has lasted for over sixty years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.