Korea, France Adopt 16 Documents to Expand AI, Defense Ties

President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron greet each other after a joint press announcement at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Dec. 8, local time. Yonhap News Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Mistral AI Chief Executive Arthur Mensch pose for a photo after exchanging an investment agreement at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Dec. 8, local time, with President Lee Jae-myung and French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance. From left: Samsung Electronics Executive Vice President Lee Jong-myung, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, President Lee, President Macron and Mistral AI Chief Executive Arthur Mensch. Yonhap News PARIS — South Korea and France adopted 16 documents to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, on the occasion of a summit between President Lee Jae-myung and President Emmanuel Macron. Lee held an exchange ceremony for agreements and memorandums of understanding after concluding the summit with Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on the 8th. Nine of the 16 documents were adopted in the presence of the two leaders. The two countries first signed a protocol amending their military information security agreement, adding restrictions on access to strengthen the protection of military secrets. The move lays the groundwork for expanding defense and defense industry cooperation by enhancing the stability and reliability of military intelligence exchanges. They also agreed to strengthen security and safety standards in bilateral aviation cooperation through a protocol amending their air services agreement. A memorandum of understanding was signed covering joint projects in artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology, as well as efforts to attract investment. The two sides further agreed to broaden the basis for cooperation in advanced industries by adopting an implementing arrangement on space industry promotion. They also adopted a memorandum of understanding on industrial cooperation and competitiveness, establishing a new ministerial-level industrial strategy dialogue to solidify institutional cooperation. Other documents adopted include a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation aimed at boosting the cultural industry and joint investment, a memorandum of understanding on intellectual property cooperation to expand exchanges in IP policy using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, and a letter of intent on cooperation for long-term enrichment services involving enrichment facilities. Agreements involving private companies were also concluded. Samsung Electronics (005930) will participate as a strategic investor in French AI startup Mistral AI and cooperate in developing an in-house AI model exclusively for Samsung Electronics that can protect its semiconductor expertise. An investment agreement to that effect was adopted. Some documents were adopted on the occasion of Lee's visit. They include an agreement on public security cooperation, a memorandum of understanding on business cooperation, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in biotechnology, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in plant science and a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation in biotechnology fields. Also adopted were a memorandum of understanding on inter-university cooperation to promote personnel exchanges between science and technology universities in the two countries, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in mathematics and physics to expand exchanges of basic science researchers. The two countries also agreed to conclude a mutual logistics support agreement to speed up logistics support in both peacetime and wartime, and are discussing detailed wording. A memorandum of understanding on nuclear research and development cooperation, covering joint research on next-generation small modular reactors, is to be signed on a separate occasion. "We agreed to further strengthen economic and industrial cooperation with the goal of reaching $20 billion in trade by 2030," Lee said. "Based on the deep friendship and trust the two countries have built over the past 140 years, we will open a new 140 years together."