South Korea and Egypt lift ties to strategic partnership during Sisi's state visit

South Korea has upgraded bilateral relations with Egypt to strategic partnership during President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's first state visit in a decade.

• South Korea's presidential office announced the upgrade and said Seoul and Cairo will begin negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.
• The two governments signed memorandums of understanding on shipbuilding, clean energy, energy infrastructure, and information technology.
• President Lee Jae-myung welcomed Sisi, saying his visit is the first by an Egyptian president to South Korea in 10 years.
• The leaders agreed to expand defense cooperation, praising joint production of K9 self-propelled howitzers.
• Sisi said security of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of its littoral states.
• The two leaders agreed to designate next year as a year of mutual cultural exchange.
• Sisi pledged to encourage increased South Korean investment in Egypt during his summit talks with Lee Jae-myung.
• He proposed establishing a Korean industrial zone in Egypt as a platform to reach African, Arab, and European markets.
• Sisi reiterated Egypt's rejection of Israeli escalation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and its support for the two-state solution.
• Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's steadfast position on the Palestinian cause, backing a two-state solution and urging more countries to recognize a Palestinian state.
• Sisi called the Nile a lifeline for more than 100 million Egyptians and rejected unilateral actions violating the no-harm principle and international law.
• The visit marked Sisi's second trip to South Korea, following an earlier official visit.