President Lee: "Launch CEPA Talks with Egypt"... Bilateral Ties Elevated to 'Strategic Partnership'

President Lee Holds Summit with Egyptian President el-Sisi on State Visit
"Hope Swift Conclusion of CEPA Will Expand Economic Cooperation"
12 Cooperation Documents Exchanged on Clean Energy, Power, and Other Areas

South Korean President Lee Jaemyung and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi held a summit on Oct. 8 and agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. Negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which the two countries had agreed to pursue, will officially begin following the summit.

President Lee made the announcement in a joint press statement after holding summit talks that morning at the Blue House with President el-Sisi, who was visiting South Korea on a state visit. "Egypt is an economic powerhouse linking the Middle East and Africa and one of our major trading partners. Many of our leading companies are already actively operating there," Lee said. "I hope the agreement will be concluded swiftly, laying a solid foundation for expanding economic cooperation between our countries not only in trade and investment but also across a wide range of fields."

South Korean President Lee Jaemyung and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi shake hands after delivering a joint press statement at Cheong Wa Dae on Oct. 8, 2026. Yonhap

A CEPA is an agreement that strengthens comprehensive economic cooperation between two countries, going beyond markets for goods and services. It is similar to a free trade agreement (FTA), but broader in scope, as it covers various forms of investment and cooperation on exchanges of personnel. The two countries agreed to pursue a CEPA at a summit held during President Lee's visit to Egypt in November 2025. Eleven months later, they have declared the launch of negotiations.

Lee added, "The two countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in industry, energy, science and technology." He said, "We signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on shipbuilding cooperation to help develop Egypt's environmentally friendly shipbuilding industry, drawing on our country's world-class shipbuilding capabilities, and to continue mutually beneficial cooperation between our countries." Lee also said that a total of 12 cooperation documents were signed or revised in areas including clean energy, power infrastructure and ICT.

On the joint production of K-9 self-propelled howitzers, a project the two countries are pursuing, Lee said, "President el-Sisi and I agreed that it has become a successful model of defense cooperation." He added, "I expressed my hope that defense cooperation between our countries would develop into a mutually beneficial partnership that goes beyond simply exporting weapons systems, contributing to strengthening the Egyptian military's capabilities and expanding Egypt's industrial base through local production and technology cooperation."

President Lee Jaemyung speaks during expanded summit talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the Blue House on Oct. 8, 2026. Yonhap News Agency

The leaders also discussed international affairs. "The two countries have agreed to continue working toward the swift restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East," Lee said. "We reaffirmed the importance of ensuring the smooth flow of international maritime logistics and the free and safe passage of all vessels." On the South Korean government's vision of "peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," he said, "President el-Sisi highly praised our government's efforts to create conditions for dialogue and cooperation and expressed his full support."

President el-Sisi's visit to South Korea is his first in 10 years, since 2016. The government welcomed him with an FA-50 air escort flight, a welcome video displayed on a large screen along Sejong-daero and a media facade at N Seoul Tower. As President el-Sisi entered the Blue House, around 70 traditional honor guards and military musicians escorted him, while around 280 honor guards from the three branches of the armed forces stood in formation. A choir of around 30 members also performed Egyptian music as a special gesture of welcome.

After the joint press statement, the two leaders will attend a state luncheon with around 70 officials from both countries. The meal will feature Korean dishes that reinterpret traditional Egyptian culinary elements using Korean ingredients and cooking methods. Meanwhile, President Lee presented President el-Sisi, who is known to be a cycling enthusiast, with an advanced road bike made in Korea.

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