Korea, France to discuss nuclear energy cooperation

Korea said Thursday it will hold working-level talks with France this week on promoting a partnership in the nuclear energy field.

The two-day bilateral "joint coordinating committee" meeting is due to open in Seoul later in the day, according to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

It would mark the 22th biennial session since the two sides launched the committee on nuclear energy cooperation in 1982.

The two sides will focus on three main fields: R&D, nuclear safety and industry, a ministry official said.

"It's a meeting largely for information exchange rather than negotiations on a specific topic," he said. "There will be discussions on a broad range of issues."

Korea will be represented by Bae Tae-min, head of the ministry's Enormous Public Research Policy Bureau. His counterpart will be Pascal Chaix, vice director-general for international cooperation at France's Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission.

"South Korea and France have a deep friendship with each other and mutual trust, marking the 130th anniversary of forging diplomatic ties this year," Bae noted. "Through the joint committee meeting this time, the two sides plan to reaffirm the importance of their nuclear cooperation and continued contribution to the international community as global partners."
Seoul and Paris signed a nuclear accord in 1981. (Yonhap)