Seoul, April 3 (IANS) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron held summit talks on Friday, with discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in advanced technologies, energy and coordination on international issues.
Macron attended an official welcoming ceremony held at Cheong Wa Dae marking his state visit, his first to South Korea since taking office in 2017.
During the summit, the two countries plan to upgrade their “comprehensive partnership for the 21st century,” established in 2004, to “a global strategic partnership,” presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.
By upgrading the bilateral ties, Lee aims to deepen “strategic communication” with France — a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a key European Union country — and build a “future-oriented partnership,” according to Kang.
In a contribution to the French newspaper Le Figaro, Lee also expressed hope to expand bilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence, nuclear energy and the space sector, moving beyond a simple partnership toward closer strategic coordination.
After the talks, the two leaders are scheduled to attend a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding, followed by joint press announcements and a state luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap news agency reported.
While Lee and Macron hold their summit, their spouses are set to visit the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul as part of a cultural exchange program, the spokesperson said.
Macron arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to South Korea since taking office in 2017. The visit coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
On April 2, Lee Jae Myung had hosted a dinner for French President Emmanuel Macron to mark his state visit and presented symbolic gifts aimed at further deepening bilateral ties, Cheong Wa Dae had said.
–IANS
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