Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (left) is greeted by President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae on June 15. (Cheong Wa Dae)

By Yoon Sojung

President Moon Jae-in and Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley discussed cooperation measures between Korea and India, in Seoul on June 15.

President Moon said, “The telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered a precious opportunity to build friendship and trust between both leaders and strengthened our will to boost cooperation.”

Mentioning the dispatch of special envoy Chung Dong-chea to India that day, President Moon said, “I am very happy that both countries show active higher-level exchanges, and development of foreign affairs across many economic sectors.”

The president also asked the Indian finance minister to inform Prime Minister Modi that this is the first time for Korea to send a special envoy to India, which shows just how much Korea values India.

President Moon told the Indian finance minister that he hopes the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which Korea and India have been negotiating to improve, can be revised in a mutually beneficial manner so that it can contribute to boosting bilateral exchanges and trade to a greater degree.

“Our government will actively support Korean firms as they expand investment in India,” said President Moon.

Minister Jaitley said, “Prime Minister Modi expresses his appreciation to President Moon for sending an envoy to India. Currently, about 400 Korean firms operate in India and they are having a lot of positive effects on India.”

"In order to support Korean firms, our government has opened the Korea Plus center and increased the number of flights between our two nations,” the finance minister said.

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