Photo courtesy of Anadolu
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung departed Sunday for a four-day visit to France aimed at expanding cooperation with Paris in security, trade and other strategic sectors.
Lee is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron during the trip, building on the “global strategic partnership” established when Macron visited South Korea in April.
The two leaders are expected to explore areas where Seoul and Paris can broaden bilateral cooperation. Nuclear power and the possible deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz could also emerge in their discussions, according to Yonhap, citing an unnamed presidential official.
The visit coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France.
Lee will first travel to Nice before attending the Lumiere Summit on the future of cinema in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
He will then begin a two-day state visit to Paris on Tuesday. His schedule with Macron includes a private luncheon, formal summit talks and a dinner hosted by the French president.
Economic cooperation will also feature prominently during the Paris leg, with Lee expected to join a business roundtable involving representatives from 20 South Korean and French companies.
South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac earlier said the visit would seek to translate the countries’ strategic partnership into broader cooperation, particularly in security, economic relations and people-to-people exchanges.
