President Lee seeks joint cooperation on Middle East crisis; Macron says "bombardment in the Strait of Hormuz must subside" [South Korea–France summit]

[The Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung held a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at Cheong Wa Dae on the 3rd. This is Macron’s first visit to South Korea since he assumed office in 2017, which gave the meeting added significance. In particular, the two leaders agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship, established in 2004 as a "Comprehensive Partnership for the 21st Century," to a "global strategic partnership" for the first time in 22 years. They also agreed to seek ways to cooperate on the recent situation in the Middle East.
At the summit, President Lee said, "It has been 11 years since a French president last visited South Korea, and you are the first European head of state I have received as a state guest since this administration took office. As this year marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between our two countries, the occasion carries special meaning in many ways."
He continued, "South Korea and France have made remarkable progress in trade and investment cooperation, and we are expanding the horizon of collaboration in future strategic industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, the space industry, the nuclear energy sector, and the defense industry." He added, "As responsible members of the international community, our two countries are working together to respond to a range of global issues arising from the rapidly changing international environment. In fact, this small-group meeting ran long precisely because we had so much to discuss on these matters."
The leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East. President Lee stated, "The fallout from the war in the Middle East is shaking the international order. Civilian casualties are mounting, and the impact on the world economy and the energy sector is spreading by the day." He went on, "Through today’s talks, I hope we can pool our wisdom to achieve an early restoration of peace in the Middle East and to stabilize the global energy supply chain, and explore ways to cooperate jointly in responding to this crisis." He added, "I also hope we can continue close coordination between our two countries on peace on the Korean Peninsula."
Ahead of the summit, France, which holds the presidency of this year’s G7 Leaders’ Summit (G7 Summit), had extended an official invitation to President Lee. During the meeting, President Lee responded by saying he "gratefully accepts" the invitation.
President Lee said, "The Republic of Korea will actively participate in discussions at the G7 Summit aimed at addressing imbalances in the global macroeconomy and exploring ways to reform international partnerships." He emphasized, "Through this, we will work together to diagnose the structural problems that constrain shared prosperity in the international community and to devise feasible solutions that contribute to the joint growth of developed countries and developing countries."
He added, "I expect that, based on the spirit of innovation and creativity that our two countries share, we will be able to further advance our future-oriented cooperation. In this sense, your visit will serve as a new milestone for shaping a future vision for our bilateral relationship, built on 140 years of trust and friendship between our two nations."
Macron also responded in kind. He said, "We are celebrating the 140th anniversary, and I believe this is a good opportunity to elevate the partnership between South Korea and France. By moving to a comprehensive strategic partnership, we seek cooperation based on mutual collaboration, and we are building a partnership that protects our respective interests while strengthening each side’s sovereignty."
He went on, "In particular, we are committed to the rule of law and to continuously upholding the values of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Above all, we want to address climate issues in a realistic way and tackle all these challenges, including those related to innovative technologies," adding, "I believe we need more robust means to advance our joint cooperative efforts between our two countries."
Macron said, "I believe countries that are concerned about today’s unpredictable situation can work together. We can further strengthen our relationship strategically, including in the field of defense," and continued, "With regard to the situation in the Middle East, we can play a role in stabilizing it. We must ensure that bombardment and violence, including in the Strait of Hormuz, subside."
He added, "In the economic sphere as well, we are cooperating in strategic areas such as the space industry and defense, among many others," noting, "There is a wide range of concrete areas where we can work together, including AI, quantum, and the semiconductor industry. We can also deepen cooperation in the agri-food sector and in culture." He emphasized, "We share a strong bond of friendship in many areas, including music. Korean music and Korean culture are currently enjoying great popularity in France."
cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter