New Delhi, April 21 -- India and the Republic of Korea on Monday agreed to significantly deepen their strategic partnership with a focus on defence cooperation, economic security, industrial collaboration and emerging technologies, while reaffirming their shared vision of a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed South Korean President Lee on his first visit to India, highlighting the shared values and common Indo-Pacific vision between the two countries as New Delhi hosts the first presidential visit from the Republic of Korea in eight years.

The two sides underlined the importance of closer coordination on regional and global strategic developments and agreed to expand institutional dialog...