Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will travel to Canada next week to attend the expanded foreign ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) major countries, his office announced Friday. Cho’s four-day trip, starting Tuesday, comes at the invitation of Canada, the host for this year’s G7 meetings. During the event, Cho plans to deliver remarks in two expanded sessions of top diplomats, focusing on areas such as maritime security, energy security, and critical minerals, which are of significant importance to South Korea’s national interests.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho also intends to conduct a series of bilateral meetings with counterparts from key nations on the sidelines of the gathering. This visit is part of South Korea’s efforts to expand its role within the G7 forum and enhance cooperation with member countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

This upcoming trip follows President Lee Jae Myung’s participation in the expanded leaders’ session of the G7 summit in Alberta in June, shortly after he assumed office. The participation of both President Lee and Foreign Minister Cho underscores South Korea’s commitment to engaging actively with the G7 on global issues.