PM Modi in South Korea: As it happened

Courtesy: PMO

Seoul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seoul on Monday on the last leg of his three-nation tour and held bilateral discussions with President Park Geun-hye. 

During his two-day visit to the country beginning today, PM Modi will also meet business leaders and attract investments of $10 billion for infrastructure projects. 

Here are the updates:

• PM Modi at a banquet hosted in his honour by South Korean President said there were "boundless" possibilities for cooperation with South Korea in India's economic transformation and the two countries will prosper when the region is peaceful. "Our destinies are linked with the future of Asia and the Pacific. We will prosper when the region is peaceful and our sea lanes are secure and free. We know that we must be secure in our cyber world and safe in our physical world," he added.
• Discussed key global issues during the wonderful meeting with UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, tweets PM Modi.
• PM Modi meets UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
• We talked about maritime security&cooperation in maritime security: Anil Wadhwa, Secretary East, MEA.
• PM Modi presented President Park Geun-Hye two finely woven pashmina stoles on which a poem that Rabindranath Tagore had written specially for Korea is hand embroidered in English and Korean.

PM’s gift to President Park Geun-Hye http://t.co/u38MNSBob0 pic.twitter.com/qC3D42b37M

— PIB India (@PIB_India) May 18, 2015

• South Korea on Monday decided to provide USD 10 billion to India for infrastructure, development of smart cities, railways, power generation and other diversified areas, the PTI reported.
• Vikas Swarup, official spokerperson of Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted the list of agreements signed between the two countries.
  

  Here is the list of all the agreements signed today between #IndiaKorea pic.twitter.com/CKAop7N6Uh

  — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 18, 2015

• The two countries also signed an MoU on cooperation in the fields of maritime transport and logistics between India's Ministry of Shipping and Republic of Korea's Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries.
• Framework of cooperation in the field of road transport and highways between the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of India was also inked.

• An MoU between Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the Republic of India and the Ministry of gender equality and family of the Republic of Korea in youth matters was signed.
• MoU between the Ministry of Power of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea concerning cooperation in the field of electric power development and new energy industries was inked.
• MoU for cooperation between the National Security Council Secretariat of India and the office of National Security of Republic of Korea was inked.
• An agreement on cooperation in audio-visual co-production was signed by the two countries.
• Among the MoUs signed today include an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income.
• PM Modi ends his joint address.
• During our meeting, we also had discussion on international issues.
• To facilitate their investment and operations in India, we will establish a channel called 'Korea Plus'.
• President Park and I see vast opportunities for Korean companies to be a part of our 'Make in India' mission – Modi.
• We have upgraded the bilateral relationship to 'Special Strategic Partnership', says PM.

• We consider Korea a crucial partner in India's economic modernisation, says Modi.
• I am pleased to visit Republic of Korea in the first year of my tenure as PM and would like to thank President Park for the warm welcome and hospitality – Modi. 
• PM Modi and South Korean President are holding a joint press conference after they signed several key agreements including taxation and transport.
  

  7 Bilateral Agreements signed in areas ranging from taxation to transport. pic.twitter.com/ppNgTXhXkG

  — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 18, 2015

• A delegation-level meeting took place between the two countries. 
  

  Sculpting the Special Strategic Partnership. Delegation level talks begin between India and RoK. pic.twitter.com/mZwCMUS9CF

  — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 18, 2015

• An official welcoming ceremony is being held for the Indian PM.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets South Korean President Park Guen-hye in Seoul. They are scheduled to hold talks and sign deals later today.
• PM Modi ends his address with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki jai'.
• I assure you that you have as much right on India as PM Narendra Modi does - Modi. 
• We want India to be a technology hub and I am inviting the world with the 'Make in India' mantra. World's best technology should come to India, says Modi.
• How a country behaves with the neighboring countries is of utmost importance. We have chosen the path of humanity - Modi.

• In every step we take, we need to see whether we are being of any use to the country. If we are even throwing garbage, then we are going against our nation, says Modi.
• Want to thank all political parties for the passing of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, says PM.
• Development is not about big roads and buildings. It's about a change in quality of life. For instance, I want every home to have a toilet, says Modi.
• I can see only one solution to India's problems – development, says Modi. 
• You are aware about what is happening in India despite being miles away is because of technology - Modi.
• I can confidently say today that people from different walks of life are eager to return to India - Modi.
• India is now being called the fastest growing economy of the world and 21st century will belong to Asia, says Modi.
• But in the past one year, the perception of the world changed. It feels that BRICS is not possible without 'I', says Modi.
• In the beginning of 21st century, the world economists said that the economic activities of BRICS nation will be a part of the world. But in the last 10-15 years, they said that 'I' in BRICS is dwindling - Modi.
• 'Act East' policy is an important part of my foreign policy. Earlier it used to be 'Look East' policy - Modi.

• PM Modi begins his address to Indian community.
• Modi arrives at Kyung Hee University where he is scheduled to attend a reception being hosted by the Indian community. The recepetion is expected to be attended by 1,500 members. 
• Modi is also slated to address a reception hosted by the Indian community before meeting the South Korean President.
• The leaders of the two countries are expected to sign a number of agreements and hold talks on bilateral, regional and global issues.
• Modi is scheduled to attend a reception being hosted by the Indian community at Kyung Hee University which is expected to be attended by 1,500 members. 
• Shortly after his arrival, PM Modi visited the Seoul National Cemetery directly from the airport where he joined a wreath-laying ceremony and paid tribute to the martyrs.​

PM @narendramodi pays his tributes. pic.twitter.com/GXChNBwKDm

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 18, 2015

• Several members of the Indian community were present at the airport to welcome Modi. They waved Indian flags and shook hands with the leader as he disembarked from the flight. 

  Indian community welcomes PM @narendramodi to South Korea. https://t.co/fKEP53y6uE

  — PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 18, 2015

• After becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Mongolia, Narendra Modi arrives at ROK Airbase in Seoul on Monday and was accorded a warm welcome.

Annyeonghaseyo to the land of the morning calm! PM @narendramodi arrives in Seoul pic.twitter.com/PDrOgDgoH8

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) May 18, 2015