India, Korea discuss ways to add greater content to ties

India and South Korea today discussed ways to add greater content to their engagement, particularly in strategic and security spheres, as National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon met President Park Geun-hye in Seoul.

Menon, on the first official bilateral visit by an Indian NSA to South Korea, handed over a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Park inviting her to India at an early date.

Noting that there was "enormous goodwill" in India for the Republic of Korea, Singh said in the letter that her visit would open up new opportunities of greater cooperation in political, economic, security.

Park accepted the invitation and dates will be worked out through diplomatic channels, said a statement issued by the Indian Embassy in Seoul after the meeting Menon had with the Korean President.

Indian Ambassador to Korea Vishnu Prakash and Joint Secretary (East Asia) in the External Affairs Ministry Gautam Bambawale accompanied Menon at the meeting.

During the meetings Menon had with Park as also South Korean NSA Kim Jang-soo and Defence Minister Kim Kwan-jin, the two sides expressed happiness at the rapid expansion of bilateral relations in economic, political, cultural, educational and other areas, given growing convergence of interests and outlook.

The two sides exchanged views on adding greater content to engagement especially in the political, strategic and security sectors, the statement said.

They also compared notes on a variety of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, it said.

Korean companies have big presence in India, particularly in the electronic sector.