Seoul: South Korea and France have signed multiple pacts to enhance cooperation in defense, the economy, and other sectors, including an agreement involving South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics Co.'s investment in a French artificial intelligence (AI) firm, according to the South Korean presidential office.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the agreements were signed before and during South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's visit to France for a summit with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron. A significant aspect of the cooperation includes an investment pact between Samsung and Mistral AI, designating the South Korean firm as a "strategic investor" in the French AI company. The agreement also outlines plans for developing an exclusive AI model for Samsung that could protect its semiconductor information.

The presidential office indicated that this deal is anticipated to boost bilateral cooperation in cutting-edge technology, extending beyond company-level interactions to involve state-level collaborations. Additionally, a bilateral agreement signed by the South Korean foreign minister and the French defense minister aims to upgrade a military secret information protection pact, enhancing the stability and reliability of military information sharing between the two countries.

Two other memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed, focusing on joint research and development projects between South Korean and French companies in the AI, semiconductor, and quantum technology sectors. Another MOU calls for enhanced cooperation in industrial policies, trade, and other areas. Both countries also agreed to pursue further agreements on mutual military logistics support and joint research on nuclear power plants, including small modular reactors.