By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held his first phone call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, which also served as an inaugural greeting on Sept. 8. They exchanged views on bilateral relations and the international situation.

Minister Barrot congratulated Minister Cho on his appointment, noted the strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries across various fields, and expressed his hope for continued close collaboration, particularly in key areas such as AI, space, and defense.

Minister Cho noted the sustained expansion of bilateral trade and investment, expressing hope to explore ways to realize cooperation potential in strategic industries going forward.

Minister Barrot expressed anticipation for Korea's role as the UN Security Council President this September and as the host of the 2025 APEC Summit. The two ministers also exchanged views on current Security Council issues.

Furthermore, the two ministers agreed to maintain close communication to make next year's 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations an opportunity to elevate bilateral ties.

They also exchanged views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and agreed to meet in person soon to hold in-depth discussions on ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries.