Paris:Seoul South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has engaged in discussions with his French counterpart, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in Paris to address bilateral relations and global issues, including the Ukraine war. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions highlighted the elevation of South Korea-France relations to a "strategic partnership" this year, marking the 140th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation in high-tech industries and other sectors. Minister Cho also sought continued French support for Korean businesses in Europe.
The G7 ministerial meeting, occurring in Marseille, France, is focusing on global issues such as artificial intelligence and Middle Eastern developments. On the sidelines, Minister Cho also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan to discuss expanding cooperation in nuclear energy, technology, and defense, and emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
In talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Cho aimed to expand cooperation in defense, desalination, AI, and electric vehicles. Both ministers agreed to implement follow-up measures from a recent summit between South Korea and Egypt, and address challenges faced by South Korean companies in Egypt.