By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul met with Emmanuel Bonne, Head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the French Presidential Office, in Paris, France, and held the Fifth Korea-France Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot on March 7.

During the meeting, Minister Cho exchanged views on ▲ recent domestic developments, ▲ high-level exchanges between Korea and France, ▲ trends in strengthening security in Europe and France's contribution after the new U.S. administration, ▲ France's role and contribution to the 2026 chairmanship of the G7, and ▲ global norm-setting issues such as artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change.

In the 5th Strategic Dialogue between Foreign Ministers, the two leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year, commemorative projects and measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, and multilateral cooperation.

Regarding ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the two ministers discussed the promotion and achievements of President Macron's visit to Korea and the commemoration of the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The two ministers acknowledged that the two countries have recently expanded cooperation in new industries such as high-tech and AI, electric vehicle batteries, space, aviation, defense, and satellites, and agreed that the bilateral partnership should be elevated to a strategic level from a long-term perspective by activating various consultative bodies such as the Korea-France Future Business Dialogue, and agreed to work together to make next year's 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations a meaningful year in that regard.

Regarding regional affairs, they exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including the status of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine; trends in military cooperation between Russia and North Korea; the new U.S. administration and its implications for European security; the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the Indo-Pacific region; the situation in the Middle East, including Iran and Syria; and Korea-G7 cooperation and cooperation at the multilateral level, including the G20 and the UN.

After the ROK-France Strategic Dialogue, Minister Cho visited and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Korean War commemorative bronze plaque installed under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, encouraged the members of the Korean War Veterans Association who attended the wreath-laying ceremony, and signed the guest book.

Minister Cho then held a meeting with correspondents in Paris and explained the outcomes of his visit to Poland and France.

Cho's visit to France is considered to be an opportunity to deepen strategic communication between the two countries in the process of creating a new international order amid geopolitical tectonic shifts.