(LEAD) Lee set for summit with East Timor President Horta on strengthening ties

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to meet with East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta on Friday to bolster cooperation between their nations. Ramos-Horta, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, landed in South Korea the day prior for a three-day visit, marking the inaugural trip by an East Timorese leader since diplomatic ties were forged in 2002.

The summit will focus on expanding collaboration across various domains, including security, intellectual property, climate change, education, and human exchanges, along with addressing current regional security concerns and global issues. They will also participate in a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony and a joint press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.

A luncheon will follow the summit, featuring a fusion of both countries' culinary traditions. The meal will consist of traditional Korean dishes, such as chicken drumsticks marinated in Korean sauce, alongside rice-based East Timorese cuisine, and coffee from East Timor. Lee intends to present Ramos-Horta with various Korean gifts, including an art book showcasing rare Korean plant miniatures and red ginseng, as South Korea looks forward to the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic relations next year.