Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron are poised to engage in summit talks on Friday, with a primary focus on advancing cooperation in advanced technologies, energy, and coordination on international matters.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Macron arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day state visit, marking his inaugural trip to South Korea since assuming office in 2017. This visit coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. The summit aims to elevate the "comprehensive partnership for the 21st century," which was established in 2004, to a "global strategic partnership," as stated by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung in a written briefing.

By enhancing the bilateral ties, President Lee seeks to strengthen "strategic communication" with France-a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and a significant European Union nation-and to forge a "future-oriented partnership," according to Kang. In an article for the French newspaper Le Figaro, President Lee conveyed his aspiration to broaden bilateral cooperation in sectors such as artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and the space industry, progressing beyond a basic partnership to achieve closer strategic coordination.

Subsequent to the discussions, the two leaders are scheduled to participate in a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding, followed by joint press statements and a state luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae. Concurrently, the spouses of Lee and Macron will visit the National Museum of Korea in central Seoul as part of a cultural exchange initiative, as noted by the spokesperson.