President Lee Cites the "French Revolution," Proposes Elevating Ties to a "Strategic Partnership"
Refers to "German Unification," Says "South Korea Should Learn from That Experience"
President Macron: "Let's Cooperate on Security and AI... I Will Prepare to Visit Korea Next Year"
Chancellor Merz: "I Have Many Questions About North Korea... Also Curious About South Korea's Perception of China"
President Lee Jaemyung held consecutive summits with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, emphasizing the need to strengthen relations in areas such as the economy and security. Notably, President Lee mentioned that the French Revolution greatly contributed to the development of democracy in Korea and proposed to President Macron that the two countries elevate their relationship to a "strategic partnership." To Chancellor Merz, President Lee requested Germany's support for peace on the Korean Peninsula and asked to learn from Germany's experience with unification.
On November 22 (local time), on the occasion of attending the Group of Twenty (G20) summit in South Africa, President Lee Jaemyung held a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and stated, "France and South Korea share a special relationship, and I hope this meeting will further develop our ties. I would like to see our bilateral relationship elevated to a strategic partnership."
President Lee and President Macron first met during the expanded session of the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Canada in June. Recalling that meeting, President Lee said, "President Macron sat next to me at that time, and the video capturing that moment became very popular in South Korea," using this anecdote to open the discussion. President Lee also expressed gratitude for France's troop deployment during the Korean War, adding, "While the French Revolution is globally renowned, I want to highlight that it also had a significant impact on the development of democracy in South Korea. It is an honor to meet the great France."
President Lee proposed that both countries solidify cooperation in all fields, including culture, economy, security, and advanced technology. In the closed-door meeting, President Lee said, "I hope our two countries will pursue complementary cooperation in the defense industry and expand exchanges and collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI) and the space industry." He also emphasized the importance of expanding cultural exchanges, stating, "I look forward to our two countries creating new opportunities together." Additionally, it was reported that the two leaders exchanged views on issues related to the Korean Peninsula and the region.
President Macron responded enthusiastically to President Lee's proposals. He said, "We had the opportunity to meet at the G7, and I am pleased to have this meeting now. I believe our countries can cooperate in a wide range of fields, including security, artificial intelligence (AI), space, nuclear power, renewable energy, and quantum technology." He continued, "I also appreciate South Korea's clear and consistent stance on key issues such as the situation in Ukraine."
President Macron added, "I hope that France, which will serve as the chair of the Group of Seven summit next year, and South Korea, which is making diverse contributions to global issues, will continue to work closely together on various international matters." On this occasion, President Lee said, "Next year marks the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France, making it a special year. I sincerely hope you will visit South Korea. We will be honored to welcome you as a state guest." President Macron replied, "I will prepare to visit South Korea to commemorate the 140th anniversary of our diplomatic relations."
Korea-Germany Summit Also Held... President Lee: "Please Share Your Unification Know-how," Chancellor Merz: "I Have Many Questions About North Korea"
Following his meeting with President Macron, President Lee also held a summit with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. During the meeting, President Lee said, "South Korea has much to learn from Germany's experience. I want to learn how Germany overcame division and achieved unification, so that South Korea can follow a similar path." He added with a smile, "If you have any special know-how that you have kept secret, please share it with us."
Chancellor Merz responded with a smile, saying, "There is no secret know-how," and expressed his curiosity about North Korea. He said, "I am very interested in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and its surroundings. I have many questions about North Korea," adding, "I am also curious about South Korea's perception of China, as we are also considering our own strategy toward China."
The two leaders continued their discussion on building peace on the Korean Peninsula during the closed-door meeting. President Lee explained the South Korean government's efforts to ease tensions and build peace on the peninsula, and requested Germany's support, drawing on its experience of overcoming division and achieving unification.
There was also discussion about economic cooperation. The two leaders agreed that, as manufacturing powerhouses with shared experiences of division, South Korea and Germany have already established strong partnerships in various fields. They decided to further strengthen bilateral relations, focusing on areas of mutual interest such as energy and critical mineral cooperation.
President Lee especially highlighted that Germany, where about 850 South Korean companies are operating, serves as a key base for entering Europe and is South Korea's largest trading partner in the region. He highly valued the steady economic cooperation between the two countries. President Lee also noted, "As Europe moves to strengthen its defense capabilities, Germany, as a major defense power, is playing an important role. Our defense companies are also very interested in deepening cooperation with Germany," and asked for Chancellor Merz's attention to this matter.
Meanwhile, the two leaders agreed to use the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK), which will be hosted by the German business community in South Korea next year, to strengthen networking between business leaders of both countries and further expand mutually beneficial economic cooperation. They also agreed to continue in-depth discussions to advance bilateral relations through mutual visits next year.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
