Johannesburg: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron held their inaugural meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit to discuss enhancing cooperation in various sectors including security, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and energy.

According to Anadolu Agency, President Lee extended an invitation to President Macron to visit South Korea next year, marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. President Macron expressed enthusiasm for the prospective visit, seeing it as an opportunity to bolster bilateral ties.

During the discussions, President Lee emphasized the importance of elevating the relationship between South Korea and France to a strategic partnership, with a focus on strengthening collaboration across culture, economy, security, and advanced technology. President Macron expressed gratitude for South Korea's commitment to issues significant to France, particularly regarding Ukraine.

In addition to his meeting with President Lee, President Macron also engaged with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit. Prime Minister Modi shared on social media platform X that their conversation covered a range of topics, reinforcing the strong India-France partnership.

Separately, President Lee and Prime Minister Modi discussed ways to deepen economic and investment connections between South Korea and India, underscoring the importance of robust international cooperation.