Johannesburg: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his hope to elevate the bilateral relationship with France to a "strategic partnership" and deepen cooperation in culture, security, technology, and other fields during a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in South Africa on Saturday. According to Yonhap News Agency, their meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg followed their encounter during the Group of Seven summit in Canada in June. The two nations are preparing to celebrate the 140th anniversary next year of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. "I hope to upgrade the two countries' bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership and bolster cooperation across various fields, including culture, the economy, security, and cutting-edge technologies," Lee stated. Lee expressed his appreciation for France's deployment of troops to support South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. He also noted the significant impact of the French Revolution on the development of South Korea's democracy. Macron responded that France hopes to expand cooperation in a wide range of areas, including security and emerging technologies, such as quantum, artificial intelligence, space, and nuclear and renewable energy. Macron also thanked South Korea for its "clear commitment" regarding issues related to Ukraine and other matters important to France. During the talks, Lee invited Macron to visit South Korea next year to mark the 140th anniversary of the bilateral relationship. Macron said it would be "a great opportunity to prepare the visit," expressing his enthusiasm about traveling to Korea.