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| 2023-12-09 08:00:03
(Meet the Ambassador) French ambassador
(Meet the Ambassador) France fully supports S. Korea's 'G7 Plus' initiative: top envoy
By Kim Seung-yeon
SEOUL, Dec. 9 (Yonhap) -- France is "entirely in favor" of South Korea's efforts to encourage the Group of Seven (G7) countries to expand the forum into a "G7 Plus" format joined by other major economies, its top envoy to Seoul has said.
Ambassador Philippe Bertoux also signaled a strong possibility of French President Emmanuel Macron paying a visit to South Korea next year.
"South Korea is a country with which France considers it necessary to talk about all range of major international issues ... As the G7 is one of the venues where we discuss these topics, it is completely natural to make it a joint discussion table," Bertoux said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.
South Korea is pushing for a "G7 Plus" initiative to expand its role and responsibilities as one of the world's major middle powers. It calls for adding more member countries to potentially upgrade the forum to an expanded version of the G7, or possibly a "G9," with the inclusion of South Korea and Australia.
The G7 comprises the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan.
South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin reiterated the call at a think tank event earlier this week, saying the G7 "requires the participation and support of countries like South Korea" to promote freedom, democracy and other common values.
Bertoux said France would welcome if South Korea is invited to next year's G7 summit in Italy, as it did for Seoul in this year's gathering in Hiroshima, Japan.
"France is entirely in favor and we support the wish that South Korea has expressed in this regard," he said through an interpreter.
On the idea of permanently expanding the G7 to G9, Bertoux said it will have to be discussed among the existing members "if there is a formal request" from a country.
"The G7 Plus format is not an alternative but rather a complement," Bertoux said. "If there was a formal request for another form of a group, such as the G9, there would have to be a consultation, but the question has not yet formally been asked," he said.
As one of the five permanent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states, France sees South Korea's entry into the UNSC as an elected member for 2024-25 as an occasion for Seoul to "enlighten" other members of the council on North Korean issues, Bertoux said.
"(For) those who perhaps are reluctant to deepen the discussions, but also those who, by their geographical distance, perhaps do not have as intimate a knowledge (about North Korea), it is an excellent opportunity to exchange information and bring together points of view so that the Security Council becomes closer to a consensus position on these issues," he said.
France stands "in solidarity" with South Korea against North Korean threats in "all their forms," Bertoux said, pointing out the importance of ensuring the "effective and full" implementation and regular updating of sanctions.
"France, with Korea, is mobilizing to make these sanctions known and help countries apply them. It is help in the form of legal support, but also help in terms of resources," Bertoux said, adding that France has contributed to the monitoring of the application of sanctions through its own maritime surveillance operations.
"We know that North Korea obviously has processes of evasion, of concealment ... so the sanctions must be updated and readjusted very regularly," Bertoux said.
Bertoux said Macron's visit to South Korea is highly likely to take place in 2024.
"It is a wish shared by the French side and the Korean side, that it will be marked by a state visit by President Macron to Korea," he said.
"I believe that the principle and desire to set up this visit is well established and the only question being raised is the question of the date," he said.
On South Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy, Bertoux said it shares similarities with that of its own, and that it gives much potential for greater cooperation between the two countries on the region.
"Our strategies are not directed against any country. These are inclusive strategies, which are cooperative and based on the importance of respecting the international rule of law," he said. "We can act together in the Indo-Pacific zone, each relying on our partners to work together to put our strategies into practice."
Bertoux, who officially took office in October, said he was personally struck by the "rich" bilateral partnership with South Korea and also the many points in common with French history, marked by "conflicts, great wars, many trials."
"Our very strong French national consciousness is a little similar, or at least resonates with the very strong national consciousness of Korea ... This great cultural wealth that our two countries have, but also this taste for innovation, (taking) risks for new technologies, is shared on both sides," he said.
"We can build new bridges between our two countries and establish new cooperation. It is anchored in what we have done together so far, which is already rich, but by taking this strength into account, we can leap toward the future," Bertoux said.
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