Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul is set to embark on an official visit to Poland and France next week to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation across several sectors, including the defense industry, as announced by his ministry on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho's itinerary includes a trip to Poland starting Tuesday, marking the first official visit by a South Korean foreign minister to the country in 18 years. During his visit, Cho is scheduled to meet with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski to explore ways to bolster bilateral relations in areas such as defense manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. Discussions will also cover regional and global issues, including the Korean Peninsula's situation and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The talks coincide with the ongoing processing of contracts following a significant framework agreement signed in July 2022, wherein South Korea's defense industry agreed to arms exports valued at approximately US$44.2 billion to Poland. In addition to this, Cho is expected to meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda and visit the Minsk Mazowiecki military air base during his stay.
Following his visit to Poland, Cho will proceed to France on March 7 to engage in discussions with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. The discussions in France will cover cooperation in the defense industry, space, artificial intelligence, and other sectors. They will also address regional and international security issues and plan for joint events next year to celebrate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and France.
The ministry also disclosed that Cho is scheduled to meet with New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Seoul on Friday. The agenda includes discussions on advancing cooperation in defense, security, the economy, space, science, and other areas.