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Lee, Macron set for summit to deepen bilateral cooperation

Published: 03 Apr. 2026, 11:25

President Lee Jae Myung, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron head to the Blue House in Seoul for their summit talks on April 3. [YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to hold summit talks on Friday, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in advanced technologies, energy and coordination on international issues.

Macron arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a two-day state visit, marking his first trip to Korea since taking office in 2017. The visit coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

During the summit, the two countries plan to upgrade their "comprehensive partnership for the 21st century," established in 2004, to "a global strategic partnership," presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing.

By upgrading the bilateral ties, Lee aims to deepen "strategic communication" with France — a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a key European Union country — and build a "future-oriented partnership," according to Kang.

In a contribution to the French newspaper Le Figaro, Lee also expressed hope to expand bilateral cooperation in AI, nuclear energy and the space sector, moving beyond a simple partnership toward closer strategic coordination.

After the talks, the two leaders are scheduled to attend a signing ceremony for memorandums of understanding, followed by joint press announcements and a state luncheon at the Blue House.

While Lee and Macron hold their summit, their spouses are set to visit the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan District, central Seoul, as part of a cultural exchange program, the spokesperson said.

Yonhap