President Moon holds summit with President Macron: "Let's strengthen semiconductor cooperation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the afternoon of the 30th (local time), President Moon held a summit meeting with French President Macron at the Nuvola Convention Center in Rome, where the Group of Twenty (G20) summit was taking place. This was about four months after their last summit meeting held during the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June.

The two leaders warmly embraced each other as soon as they met and began the summit. President Macron said, "Let us strengthen cooperation between Korean and French companies in areas such as semiconductors," to which President Moon responded, "Especially, let us enhance supply chain and technological cooperation in new industries such as semiconductors and electric vehicles."

When President Macron welcomed Korea's increased Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for greenhouse gas reduction, President Moon praised France for legislating the 2050 carbon neutrality goal through the 'Energy Transition Law for Green Growth,' introduced Korea's Carbon Neutrality Basic Act, and said that the two countries should cooperate with each other for carbon neutrality.

The two leaders evaluated that France's Indo-Pacific strategy and Korea's New Southern Policy share many commonalities based on openness and inclusiveness, and discussed expanding cooperation.

President Moon said, "Since working-level consultations between the two countries are underway, let us expand cooperation starting with feasible areas," and President Macron said, "We plan to hold a ministerial-level meeting related to the Indo-Pacific strategy in early next year and hope Korea will participate."

When President Macron expressed interest in the North Korean situation and Korean Peninsula issues, President Moon explained the current situation in detail, emphasized the importance of early resumption of inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. dialogues, and said that South Korea and the U.S. are making various efforts to restart talks. In response, President Macron said, "France is always willing to play any necessary role and contribute."

Concluding the meeting, President Moon expressed gratitude for France's state visit invitation and hospitality in 2018, and President Macron proposed visiting Korea at a convenient time.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.