Building Bridges: South Korea’s Bold Move to Strengthen Ties with France

A presidential delegation visited France this week to meet with top French officials and lawmakers on behalf of President Lee Jae Myung and highlighted efforts to further enhance relations with the European country, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Friday.

The delegation, led by former Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil, met with Emmanuel Bonne, a diplomatic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron. They delivered a personal letter from President Lee conveying his message on strengthening bilateral relations, according to the ministry’s statement.

Kang expressed the Lee administration’s strong commitment to deepening the comprehensive partnership between the two countries. This commitment is particularly significant as Seoul and Paris prepare to mark the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

The delegation outlined President Lee’s vision of pursuing a pragmatic foreign policy. They emphasized his government’s commitment to firmly addressing North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats while simultaneously seeking to reopen inter-Korean dialogue by reducing military tensions and taking steps to build trust.

To achieve these goals, South Korea aims to continue working closely with France, a nation that has consistently supported South Korea’s peace initiatives, the delegation conveyed to their French counterparts.

The delegation also highlighted efforts to advance substantive cooperation with France across various strategic industries. These include space, defense, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence, as well as addressing shared global challenges such as climate change.

In response, Bonne expressed optimism about exploring opportunities to elevate bilateral relations under the Lee administration. He emphasized the importance of maintaining close communication with South Korea to promote regional stability and security.

Bonne also reaffirmed France’s strong solidarity and support for South Korea’s policies regarding the Korean Peninsula, the ministry reported.

In separate meetings, the delegation engaged with Loic Herve, vice president of the French Senate, and Sabrina Sebaihi, chair of the France-Korea parliamentary friendship group. These discussions focused on ways to expand parliamentary exchanges between the two nations.

The delegation also met with member companies of the France-Korea Business Council to discuss strategies for strengthening bilateral trade and investment. (Yonhap)