Seoul, March 24 – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung spoke by phone with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday, and they discussed the current situation in the Middle East, Cheong Wa Dae said.
The two leaders discussed the impact of the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran on the global economy and energy supplies, and shared their respective policy measures to stabilize livelihoods in their countries, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing, according to Yonhap News Agency.
During the talks, Lee explained that South Korea has implemented a temporary fuel price cap system to ease the financial burden on fuel, and is reviewing imposing restrictions on naphtha exports.
Lee urged South Korea and New Zealand to work closely together, noting that cooperation between nations with similar stances is vital in restoring regional peace and stabilizing the global economy.
As a country that relies entirely on imports for refined oil, New Zealand has prioritized ensuring safety in the Strait of Hormuz and stabilizing energy supplies, Luxon said.
Luxon also praised the two nations' signing of a joint statement calling on Iran to stop attempts to block commercial traffic in the strait, and expressed hope for continued close coordination on relevant issues, according to Kang.
New Zealand's bilateral ties with South Korea are based on strong political, economic, and security links dating back to the Korean War. Diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1962, with resident embassies opening in Seoul and Wellington in 1971, according to New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In recent years, the relationship between the two nations has deepened through engagement in areas such as economics and trade, defense, people-to-people links, film, culture, tourism, education, science and technology, and Antarctic issues.
