A Global Partnership With Korea
French Ambassador to Seoul Philippe Thiebaud contributed the following article on the occasion of the French National Day, which falls on July 14. _ ED.
It is a great pleasure for me to address the readers of The Korea Times on the occasion of the French National Day.
The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 218 years ago, was the starting point of the French Revolution and has been celebrated every year since as the National Day of France.
The national flag became the tricolour, with royal white being inserted between, as a sign of popular control between the two colours of the city of Paris, dark blue and bright red.
``Liberty, Equality’’ became the national motto, and was completed later by ``Fraternity.’’ These values continue to be a source of inspiration and echo in Korea.
Diplomatic relations began in 1886, with the signature of a friendship and trade agreement between Korea and France, and since then, despite the vicissitudes of history, exchanges between the two countries have steadily increased.
Last year, we jointly commemorated the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties; the success of these manifestations (more than 1.5 million Koreans visited 80 exhibitions or events held in Korea) was unprecedented.
Our two countries, rooted in a history more than 1,000 years old and each endowed with a strong cultural identity are attached to this plurality, making the richness of the world, as shown by the United Nations Educational Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, supported both by Korea and France.
The actual entry into force of the agreement signed in Seoul in October 2006 to support each other’s movie industries will further increase the success of Korean movies in France, as illustrated by the ``prix d’interpretation feminine’’ given in Cannes last June to Jeon Do-youn.
Second European trading partner of Korea, France is very supportive of the free trade agreement (FTA) currently under negotiation between Korea and the EU.
Such an FTA will give a new boost to the ``Global Partnership’’ President Jacques Chirac and President Roh Moo-hyun decided to establish in December 2004.
From nuclear energy to space and aeronautics, the bilateral cooperation encompasses a large variety of topics of mutual interest.
The KHP program, which involves Korea Aerospace Industries and EADS with its Franco-German subsidiary, Eurocopter, is an excellent illustration of a ``win-win’’ common endeavour.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo’s visit to France last June was a perfect opportunity to give a new impetus to this ``Global Partnership’’ in politics as well as economics, culture and science.
After the election of President Nicolas Sarkozy on May 6, many observers noted that a ``New France’’ has emerged. This ``New France’’ is eager to further develop cooperation and friendship with Korea.
France’s National Day gives me an opportunity to express the best wishes of the French people to all Koreans for their continuing success and prosperity. It is also the right time to wish increasing cooperation and friendship between the French and Korean people.