Seoul: Trade chiefs of South Korea and Canada held talks Tuesday on ways to expand their countries' cooperation on energy, supply chains, and strategic industries, the trade ministry said. The meeting between Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Canadian Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu was held in Seoul on the sidelines of the Korea-Canada energy security leadership dialogue.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Tuesday's meeting comes amid an ongoing bid by a South Korean consortium to win Canada's estimated 60 trillion-won (US$39.2 billion) submarine project. During the meeting, Kim and Sidhu agreed on the need to bolster their countries' cooperation in the energy and resources sectors as uncertainties surrounding global supply chains have heightened due to the geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East.

Kim also called for Canada's positive consideration of Seoul's earlier proposal for a cooperation project aimed at creating a hydrogen mobility ecosystem in Canada as part of a broader project to expand bilateral cooperation between the two countries in various areas. "In this new era of uncertainty, if a resource-rich country like Canada and a manufacturing powerhouse like South Korea combine their respective strengths, they will be able to build resilient supply chains capable of overcoming global crises," Kim was quoted as saying.

On Wednesday, a reception for the visiting Canadian trade mission will be held in Seoul, offering a venue for South Korean and Canadian businesses in defense, aerospace, energy, and ICT to explore business cooperation opportunities, the ministry said.