President Lee's Special Envoy, Meeting with French Presidential Office and Parliament.. Strengthening Cooperation on the Occasion of the 140th Anniversary of Korea-France Diplomatic Relations Next Year

[Financial News] The special envoy to France appointed by President Lee Jae-myung visited Paris from the 16th to the 17th, delivered a personal letter from the president to the chief of diplomacy at the French presidential office, and met with key figures in the French parliament and major local company representatives.
The special envoy to France included Kang Geum-sil, former Minister of Justice, as the head, along with Assemblyman Han Byung-do and Assemblyman Chun Joon-ho.
The special envoy informed key figures in France that 'Democratic Korea' has returned to the international community. Additionally, the new government introduced its vision of advancing foreign policy based on the principle of 'a global responsible power that pragmatically responds to changes in the world order' under a pragmatic approach.
Furthermore, they stated that they would firmly respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations, but also aim to reopen dialogue and exchanges between the two Koreas through measures to ease military tensions and build trust, opening the path to peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. To this end, they conveyed their intention to continue close cooperation with France, which has consistently supported our government's policy of peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.
The special envoy met with Emmanuel Bonne, the chief of diplomacy at the French presidential office, on the 16th and directly delivered a personal letter from President Lee Jae-myung regarding the strengthening of Korea-France relations. They particularly expressed their intention to deepen and develop the comprehensive partnership between the two countries in the 21st century on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and France next year.
The special envoy hopes to strengthen practical cooperation with France in various fields, including strategic industries such as space, defense, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence (AI), and global issues such as the climate crisis, and to continue close cooperation with France, which has consistently supported our government's position for substantial progress in peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Additionally, they expect to strengthen cooperation with the G7, which France will chair next year, to respond to complex crisis situations through close consultation.
Chief Bonne evaluated that Korea has demonstrated the resilience and strength of democracy through this election, conveying President Macron's congratulations and message of friendship. He also expressed hope to realize the potential for strategic cooperation through the strengthening of bilateral relations on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations next year, and to continue close communication with our government to maintain cooperation for international stability and security at the G7 summit level. He reaffirmed France's strong solidarity and support for our government's policy on the Korean Peninsula.
The special envoy met with Loïc Hervé, Vice President of the Senate, and Sabrina Sebaihi, Chair of the France-Korea Parliamentary Friendship Association, in the Senate and National Assembly on the 17th, explained the new government's foreign policy stance, and discussed ways to expand parliamentary exchanges between Korea and France. Vice President Hervé and Chair Sebaihi welcomed the visit of the special envoy, evaluated the resilience and strength of Korean democracy, and agreed on the need to further expand parliamentary exchanges, local government exchanges, economic cooperation, and climate cooperation on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
Meanwhile, the special envoy visited the headquarters of Air Liquide on the 16th, met with members of the France-Korea Business Council within the French Business Confederation (MEDEF), and discussed ways to expand trade and investment between the two countries. Participating companies such as Air Liquide, Airbus, Dassault, and LVMH evaluated that exchanges between companies in the two countries are being activated, such as the launch of the 'Korea-France Business Future Dialogue' in 2024 and a separate meeting hosted by President Macron for Korean companies as the guest country at the Choose France event in May this year. They hoped that exchanges in fields where both countries have strengths, such as decarbonization, aerospace, and startups, would be further expanded.

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter