By Reporter Anna Kim 

President Yoon Suk-yeol held a summit with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on July 11, as part of his attendance at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit. 

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations, enhancing substantial cooperation, international situation trends, and cooperation strategies on the international stage.

President Yoon emphasized the significance of the recent high-level exchanges between the two countries, including the visit of the Swedish Prime Minister to Korea, considering Sweden as a long-standing friendly nation that dispatched a medical support unit during the Korean War and has been active in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission.

Prime Minister Kristersson expressed his pleasure at the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in advanced industries such as bio and battery sectors, and he expressed his hope for continued expansion of collaboration in the future.

In response, President Yoon mentioned the close cooperation between the two countries in advanced industries such as batteries (Korean equipment companies participating in the construction of the Northvolt Shellharbour Battery Factory) and bio (AstraZeneca's joint research on new drug development with Samsung Medical Center and the Korea Health Industry Development Institute), emphasizing the fruitful nature of the bilateral cooperation. 

He also suggested close communication on enhancing cooperation in the areas of nuclear power and supply chain, where there is great potential for collaboration.

Furthermore, both leaders agreed to continue their cooperation on the North Korean nuclear issue and human rights issues in North Korea.

President Yoon especially congratulated Sweden's efforts to join NATO and expressed his hope that this would lead to active information and cyber cooperation between Korea and Sweden.

Both leaders reaffirmed their solidarity with the international community in supporting Ukraine and agreed to work closely together for the early restoration of peace and normalcy in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, President Yoon explained the vision of the 2030 Busan World Expo, which aims to be a solution platform for humanity's challenges, and requested the support of the Swedish government.