FM to attend G7 foreign ministers' meeting in France next week

SEOUL, November 5 (AJP) - Foreign Minister Cho Hyun will visit France next week to attend a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7), where participants are expected to discuss major global challenges including the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the prolonged conflict in the Middle East, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

At a press briefing in Seoul, ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon said Cho will depart for Paris on Sunday before traveling to Marseille, where the meeting is scheduled to take place Monday and Tuesday.

"Cho's attendance is expected to strengthen South Korea's partnerships with G7 members as a country that takes an active role in addressing global challenges," he added.

The upcoming gathering will be the second G7 foreign ministers' meeting this year, following the first one in March and the G7 leaders' summit in June.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Cho will also hold separate talks with his counterparts from other participating countries to discuss ways to expand cooperation.