President Lee Jae Myung has vowed to lay the foundation for a "new centennial phase" in bilateral relations between South Korea and the United Arab Emirates(UAE).

Lee told the newspaper Al Ittihad in a written interview that his choice of the UAE as the first stop on his Middle East trip since taking office last June demonstrates a strong desire to solidify and develop relations with the country.

In the interview released on Tuesday, Lee said that he and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan will discuss expanding cooperation beyond the two nations' four key sectors—investment, defense, nuclear power and energy—to include future-oriented sectors, such as artificial intelligence, health and culture.

Lee said the discussion will lay the foundation for a new phase in the two sides' partnership.

The president added that the two nations would pursue collaboration opportunities in the maintenance and operation of the Barakah nuclear power plant, as well as in the construction of AI data centers and medical service hubs.

Lee said that the success of the Barakah nuclear power plant, built by South Korea, would open a new chapter in energy collaboration between the two nations.

He added that South Korea intends to collaborate with the UAE on next-generation nuclear energy, including small modular reactors and joint entry into nuclear markets.