By Lee Jon-young

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Stanford University on November 17 with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the APEC Summit and held a roundtable discussion on cooperation in the high-tech sector between Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

The event was organized by three Stanford research centers, which jointly hosted the leaders of Japan and South Korea, two key U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region. More than 400 people, including Stanford University officials and university students, attended the summit. It was the first time the leaders of South Korea and Japan have ever held a joint event in a third country.

In their remarks, President Yoon emphasized that the three leaders decided to pursue a "comprehensive partnership" among the three countries at the Camp David Summit in August, and explained their solidarity strategy to realize the principles and spirit of Camp David. 

In particular, he emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation and joint leadership among the three countries in the areas of original and advanced technologies, AI and digital governance, and carbon reduction and clean energy.

Prime Minister Kishida expressed his hope that the three countries will build on the commitments made at the Camp David Summit to cooperate in the areas of economic security and technology and move forward with cooperation in semiconductors, AI, clean energy, and quantum technologies.

In a subsequent conversation with Hoover Institution President Condoleezza Rice (former U.S. Secretary of State), the two leaders discussed a range of topics, including carbon neutrality and clean energy, quantum technology, and startups. 

Afterward, the two leaders interacted with Stanford University students, answering questions. The President emphasized the need for the three countries to lead international cooperation, especially in addressing climate change and fostering and utilizing quantum technology. He also mentioned the importance of exchanges between students and researchers for this purpose.

Prior to the event, the President and Prime Minister Kishida held a meeting with representatives of startups from both countries operating in the region at Stanford University, a center of innovation. The President explained his government's efforts to support startups without borders and encouraged the startup representatives from both countries, who are the main drivers of innovation.

The trilateral meeting at Stanford University was an opportunity for the two leaders to communicate with future generations in the U.S. about cutting-edge industries and innovative technologies, and for the three countries to explore ways to cooperate in the field of advanced science and technology, which is a future growth engine.