Moon calls for increased cooperation between parliaments of S. Korea, France

PARIS, Oct. 15 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in met Richard Ferrand, the president of the National Assembly of France, in Paris on Monday and stressed the importance of parliamentary cooperation between their two countries.

"President Moon said his country was enhancing its cooperation in various areas, including the political, economic, education and cultural sectors, while especially noting that the countries' comprehensive partnership for the 21st century has been developing due to the active role of the countries' parliaments," the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said in a press release.

Moon arrived in France on Saturday for a four-day state visit. The meeting with Ferrand came shortly after Moon's bilateral summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The South Korean president also thanked the head of the French parliament for taking an interest in the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery for the Japanese imperial military in the early 20th century.

He asked for the French National Assembly's continued support for exchange and cooperation between their countries.

Moon also sought France's support for his country's efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

"In addition, President Moon expressed hope that France, which spearheads international discussions on global issues as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, will continue its firm support for our government's efforts to completely denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and establish lasting peace," the press release said.

Ferrand praised Seoul's efforts to build peace, which have led to three rounds of inter-Korean summits this year alone, and promised the continued support of the French parliament for such efforts, it added.

bdk@yna.co.kr
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