President Lee Jae-myung will hold a summit meeting with President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste, who is on an official visit to South Korea.

This marks the first visit by a Timor-Leste head of state to South Korea since the two nations established diplomatic relations in 2002.

President Lee plans to meet with President Ramos-Horta today (November 6) at Cheong Wa Dae to discuss ways to expand cooperation across various sectors, including diplomacy and security, intellectual property, climate change, education, and people-to-people exchanges, as well as regional situations and major international issues.

The schedule also includes a signing ceremony for bilateral memoranda of understanding (MOUs), an expanded meeting over lunch, and a joint South Korea-Timor-Leste press announcement.

Cheong Wa Dae prepared Korean cuisine reflecting the culinary cultures of both nations for the luncheon menu.

This also includes "Ermera coffee" from Timor-Leste, which President Ramos-Horta has been actively promoting.

President Lee also plans to present gifts tailored to President Ramos-Horta's tastes and health, including an illustrated book of Korea's native rare plants, an espresso cup set, and red ginseng.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Sung-wan said in a written briefing, "Ahead of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, President Ramos-Horta's visit serves as an opportunity to further expand and deepen practical cooperation," adding, "It will be an opportunity for our country, as a responsible global powerhouse, to expand its contributions to Timor-Leste's sustainable development and regional peace and prosperity."

President Ramos-Horta, who is also a 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, paid an official visit to South Korea on the previous day at the invitation of President Lee.

This is the first bilateral official visit by a Timor-Leste head of state since diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in 2002.

Earlier, President Lee said yesterday (November 6), "It is meaningful to welcome President Ramos-Horta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his lifelong dedication to peace and democracy," expressing words of welcome and adding, "Taking this official visit as an opportunity, I hope we expand practical cooperation across various fields, and as Timor-Leste joined ASEAN last year, I hope we cooperate even more closely for peace and prosperity."

(Photo: Yonhap News)