Will South Korea's FM Cho Join G7 Foreign Ministerial Meeting in Canada Next Week?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Cho Hyun will attend the G7 foreign ministerial meeting in Canada.
- Focus areas include maritime security and energy security.
- Cho aims to strengthen South Korea's role in the G7 forum.
- Bilateral meetings with key counterparts are planned.
- This trip signifies South Korea's diplomatic recovery post-political turmoil.
Seoul, Nov 7 (NationPress) South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun is set to embark on a journey to Canada next week, participating in the expanded foreign ministerial meeting of the Group of Seven (G7) major economies, as announced by his office on Friday.
Commencing on Tuesday, Cho's four-day trip is at the invitation of Canada, which is the host for this year's G7 discussions. He is expected to speak during two expanded sessions involving high-ranking diplomats, according to a statement from the ministry.
His agenda includes discussions on maritime security, energy security, and critical minerals, which are crucial to South Korea's national interests, as reported by the Yonhap News Agency.
Additionally, Cho aims to engage in a series of bilateral talks with counterparts from significant nations during the gathering, as per the ministry's statement.
This upcoming trip signifies South Korea’s ambition to enhance its involvement within the G7 framework and strengthen ties with member states, including the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Earlier, President Lee Jae Myung participated in the expanded leaders' session of the G7 summit in Alberta this past June, shortly after his inauguration.
During his visit, he took part in an expanded G7 session in Alberta, conducting multiple bilateral discussions with leaders from G7 nations and other invited countries, aiming to showcase that South Korea's diplomatic efforts are regaining momentum after a turbulent political phase.
Lee’s election occurred on June 3, following the April removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol due to a failed martial law attempt in December.
At the G7 gathering, Lee held his inaugural in-person discussions with then-Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, where they agreed to enhance trilateral cooperation with the United States to tackle geopolitical challenges, including those related to North Korea.
He also engaged with leaders from Canada, Britain, Australia, South Africa, India, Brazil, and Mexico, as well as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and senior EU officials.