SEOUL — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will make a state visit to South Korea from Monday, November 2, to Wednesday, November 4, and hold a summit with President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday, a presidential spokesperson said in a written briefing on Sunday. It will be Erdogan's first trip to South Korea since 2018.

Source: Yonhap via Korea JoongAng Daily

The two leaders will begin the official schedule on Tuesday afternoon with a welcoming ceremony, followed by the summit, a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding and a state dinner, the Seoul Economic Daily reported. Turkey's presidential communications director also confirmed the visit on Sunday, saying the talks would cover all aspects of the two countries' strategic partnership and current regional and global issues.

Source: Seoul Economic Daily

Nuclear power and defence top the agenda

Expanded cooperation in nuclear power and defence will be the central agenda at the summit, the presidential office said. The leaders will also review progress on cooperation projects agreed during Lee's state visit to Turkey last November, discuss trade and investment and future industries including biotechnology, energy and science and technology, and exchange views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the Middle East.

2018Erdogan's last visit to South Korea
1957Year diplomatic ties were established
2012Strategic partnership signed

South Korea and Turkey established diplomatic relations in 1957 and signed a strategic partnership in 2012. Turkey, a core NATO member, was a major participant in the Korean War. Erdogan and Lee last met about four months ago at the NATO summit in Ankara in July, and Seoul said the state visit is expected to further strengthen the partnership ahead of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

Source: Reuters

East Timor's first leader visit since 2002

Lee will then host East Timor's President Jose Ramos-Horta, who will make an official visit from Thursday, November 5, to Saturday, November 7, at Lee's invitation. The two will hold a summit on Friday morning, followed by an MOU signing ceremony, an official luncheon and a joint press announcement. It is the first visit to South Korea by an East Timorese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2002.

The presidential office said Lee and Ramos-Horta — the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate — will discuss practical cooperation in diplomacy and security, intellectual property, climate change, education and people-to-people exchanges, and share views on regional and international issues. Timor-Leste joined ASEAN last year as its 11th member, and Seoul said the summit is expected to help broaden its cooperation with the bloc, ahead of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.

Two summits in one week

Seoul will host the Turkish president from November 2 to 4 and the East Timorese president from November 5 to 7, with MOU signings expected at both summits. What is signed — especially on nuclear power and defence with Turkey — is the outcome to watch.