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President Lee Jae-myung speaks by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi from the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on October 20. / Source: Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung held his first phone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Monday, commending the two nations for deepening cooperation as “comprehensive partners.”

According to Presidential Spokesperson Kim Nam-jun, the two leaders agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1995, South Korea and Egypt have achieved mutually beneficial cooperation in a wide range of fields, including the economy, infrastructure, and defense. They also recognized the strong potential for future collaboration between Korea, a leader in advanced technology, and Egypt, a key economic hub linking Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Both leaders noted the growing cultural exchanges between their citizens, highlighting the rising popularity of Korean culture in Egypt. Marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, they expressed hope that bilateral cooperation in culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges would further expand.

The two presidents also discussed issues concerning peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and developments in the Middle East.

President Lee praised Egypt’s efforts in mediating cease-fire negotiations in Gaza, expressing appreciation for Cairo’s diplomatic role in stabilizing the region.

President Sisi, for his part, welcomed the contributions of Korean companies to Egypt’s economy and voiced hope for continued and expanded investment by South Korean firms.

Spokesperson Kim added that both sides reviewed recent exchanges, including the dispatch of a South Korean presidential envoy to Egypt earlier this month, and agreed to maintain momentum through a future in-person summit to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations.