PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE

President Yoon Suk Yeol on June 13 chairs a Cabinet meeting at the Office of the President in Seoul.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee from June 19-24 will visit France and Vietnam.

Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo on the afternoon of June 13 announced the itinerary of the president's six-day trip in a news briefing at the Office of the President in Seoul.

From June 20-21, President Yoon will attend the general assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) in Paris to support Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo.

He will host activities to promote Busan including at the June 20 presentation of countries competing for the bid and an official reception the next day hosted by Korea for the delegations and diplomatic corps from participating countries.

On the occasion of his trip to Paris, President Yoon on June 20 will attend a bilateral summit and luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the presidential residence Élysée Palace in the French capital.

President Yoon will also host a meeting with ethnic Korean residents of France and attend talks on innovative future generations of both countries, digital vision forum and investment announcement ceremony with European companies.

"Since his summit with France, the president has held bilateral summits with the leaders of all member states of the Group of Seven (G7) and European Union over the past two months," Principal Deputy Director Kim said.

"Because France is the birthplace of freedom, human rights and rule of law, the universal values of humanity pursued by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the two countries at the summit will hold in-depth dialogue on expanding cooperation through value solidarity."

After departing France, the president will head to Vietnam for a state visit from June 22-24.

On June 23, he will hold a summit with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong on expansion and development of bilateral relations, which have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

President Yoon on the same day will hold individual meetings with top Vietnamese leaders including Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and attend a state dinner and other official functions as a state guest.

During his three-day trip, the president will meet ethnic Korean residents of Vietnam and visit Korean-language educational institutes and industrial facilities there.

"President Yoon's trip to Vietnam is his first bilateral visit since taking office to a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations," the Principal Deputy Director Kim said. "This was at the invitation of President Thuong, who took office in March, and also reciprocates the state visit of then Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc late last year.

"The focus of this visit is strengthening economic cooperation with Vietnam, Korea's No. 3 trading partner," he added. "To stimulate bilateral economic activities, we will review institutional bases and expand prospects for bilateral cooperation to new areas such as supply chains for core minerals, new and renewable energy, innovative science and technology, and smart cities."

korea.net