Lee says combining Korea's technology with Mexico's industrial base can create new growth

President Lee Jae Myung said in Mexico City that combining Korea’s technology with Mexico’s strong industrial base can create new growth. He cited AI, semiconductors, aerospace, electric vehicles and supply chains as areas for deeper cooperation. Lee also said Mexico is a strategic platform for Korean companies and called for stronger cultural and economic ties during his state visit.

Lee’s interview was released as he arrived in Mexico City for a state visit that included summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday.

Lee said Mexico is more than a production base for Korean companies and called it a key strategic platform for access to North American and global markets.

He said Korea and Mexico could deepen cooperation in semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electric vehicles, and pointed to Mexico’s world-class automotive industry and Korea’s strengths in batteries and EV components.

Lee said expanded joint pilot projects and technological cooperation in AI could help both countries generate new demand and open new markets.

He said Mexico’s energy potential and geo-economic advantages make it an important partner for Korea amid greater geopolitical uncertainty.

Published Sep 24, 2026 2:16 pm KST

Updated Sep 24, 2026 2:32 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung arrive at Felipe Angeles International Airport in Mexico City, Wednesday (local time), for a state visit. Yonhap

MEXICO CITY — President Lee Jae Myung said combining the country's technology with Mexico's strong industrial base can create new growth, citing artificial intelligence (AI) and supply chains among areas for cooperation, a media interview showed Wednesday.

"For Korean companies, Mexico is much more than a production base: it is a key strategic platform for accessing the markets of North America and the rest of the world," Lee said in an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal.

The interview was released as Lee arrived in Mexico City for a state visit, which will include summit talks with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Thursday.

"If we combine Korea's technology, manufacturing capabilities and accumulated experience in its economic development process with Mexico's talent and strong industrial base, we can create new opportunities for growth together," Lee said.

He said Korea and Mexico have considerable room to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors, citing semiconductors, the aerospace industry and electric vehicles (EVs) as prospective sectors for cooperation.

He referred to Mexico's "world-class automotive industry," saying that combining it with Korea's competitiveness in batteries and components for EVs can create significant opportunities.

Lee called for deepening cooperation in AI. The president said that if the countries expand joint pilot projects and technological cooperation in AI, they can jointly generate new demand and open new markets in the field.

Mexico's significant energy potential and geo-economic advantages make the country "an important partner" for Korea amid greater geopolitical uncertainty, Lee said.

Amid growing concerns over instability in the Middle East and its potential repercussions for energy supplies, Korea was also able to expand its crude oil imports thanks to Korea-Mexico cooperation, the president highlighted.

"I trust that by combining Mexico's energy potential with Korea's advanced manufacturing capabilities, our relationship will continue to evolve into an alliance in which the two countries can support each other in times of crisis while jointly creating new opportunities for growth," he added.

"I hope this visit will allow us to further expand the areas of cooperation in which culture and the economy can advance hand in hand, thereby building an increasingly strong and sustainable relationship between Mexico and Korea," the president said.

李在明总统在墨西哥城表示，韩国的技术与墨西哥强大的工业基础相结合，能够创造新的增长点。他列举了人工智能、半导体、航空航天、电动汽车和供应链等领域，指出这些都是需要深化合作的领域。李在明还表示，墨西哥是韩国企业的战略平台，并呼吁在国事访问期间加强两国的文化和经济联系。

李登辉的采访在他抵达墨西哥城进行国事访问期间发布，访问期间他将于周四与墨西哥总统克劳迪娅·欣鲍姆举行峰会会谈。

李表示，墨西哥对韩国企业而言不仅仅是生产基地，更是进入北美和全球市场的关键战略平台。

他表示，韩国和墨西哥可以在半导体、航空航天和电动汽车领域深化合作，并指出墨西哥拥有世界一流的汽车产业，而韩国在电池和电动汽车零部件方面具有优势。

李表示，扩大在人工智能领域的联合试点项目和技术合作，可以帮助两国创造新的需求，开拓新的市场。

他表示，在当前地缘政治不确定性加剧的情况下，墨西哥的能源潜力和地缘经济优势使其成为韩国的重要合作伙伴。

发布于2026年9月24日下午2:16（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月24日下午2:32（韩国标准时间）

韩国总统李在明和夫人金喜京于当地时间周三抵达墨西哥城费利佩·安赫莱斯国际机场，开始对墨西哥进行国事访问。（韩联社）

墨西哥城——周三，李在明总统在接受媒体采访时表示，将美国的科技与墨西哥强大的工业基础相结合，可以创造新的增长点。他列举了人工智能（AI）和供应链等合作领域。

李在接受墨西哥报纸《环球报》采访时表示：“对于韩国企业来说，墨西哥不仅仅是一个生产基地，更是一个进入北美和世界其他地区市场的关键战略平台。”

李登基抵达墨西哥城进行国事访问之际，这段采访内容被发布。此次访问包括周四与墨西哥总统克劳迪娅·欣鲍姆举行峰会会谈。

李说：“如果我们把韩国的技术、制造能力和经济发展过程中积累的经验与墨西哥的人才和强大的工业基础结合起来，我们就可以共同创造新的增长机会。”

他表示，韩国和墨西哥在战略领域有很大的合作深化空间，并列举半导体、航空航天业和电动汽车（EV）作为潜在的合作领域。

他提到墨西哥拥有“世界一流的汽车产业”，并表示将其与韩国在电动汽车电池和零部件方面的竞争力相结合，可以创造巨大的机遇。

李显龙总统呼吁深化人工智能领域的合作。他表示，如果两国扩大人工智能领域的联合试点项目和技术合作，就能共同创造新的需求，开拓新的市场。

李表示，墨西哥巨大的能源潜力和地缘经济优势，使得该国在日益加剧的地缘政治不确定性中成为韩国的“重要合作伙伴”。

总统强调，在人们日益担忧中东局势不稳定及其可能对能源供应造成的影响之际，韩国也得益于韩墨合作，得以扩大原油进口。

他补充说：“我相信，通过将墨西哥的能源潜力与韩国的先进制造业能力相结合，我们的关系将继续发展成为一种联盟，两国可以在危机时期互相支持，同时共同创造新的增长机遇。”

总统表示：“我希望此次访问能够让我们进一步扩大文化和经济携手发展的合作领域，从而建立墨西哥和韩国之间日益牢固和可持续的关系。”