Germany welcomes S. Korea joining G7 Summit, stays cautious on expanding G7
- 4 years ago
강경화 장관 "獨, 한국 G7회의 초청받은 것 환영...멤버십 확대는 별개의 문제"
South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha has returned from her first overseas visit in almost six months.
She had been in Berlin where she met her German counterpart Heiko Maas .
There, the German minister said Berlin welcomes South Korea's participation in this year's G7 Summit,... although he remained cautious on the issue of expanding the G7.
Our foreign affairs correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports.
On her way back home from Berlin, South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha said South Korea will contribute as much it can to the international community, including in the fight against COVID-19.
This comes as German foreign minister Heiko Maas said during a joint press conference with Kang in Berlin on Monday,... that Germany welcomes South Korea joining the upcoming G7 summit,... calling the country "important" in the global community.
On the idea of expanding G7, however, the German minister said it should be discussed with other members of the group.
"Germany welcomes South Korea participating in the upcoming G7 summit. But expanding the membership is a different story. Minister Maas explained that there should be a lot of talks and studies with other members on the issue."
Maas also made it clear that Germany is against expanding the group if it involves letting Russia back in.
Russia was kicked out of G8 in 2014 after it annexed Crimea.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier pitched the idea of expanding the group to a G11 or G12,... including South Korea and Russia.
President Trump said on Monday that he is likely to postpone the G7 meeting and host it after the presidential election in November.
When asked about the issue, Minister Kang said South Korea has not received any official notification from Washington.
During the bilateral meeting, Kang also asked for Germany's support for South Korea's trade minister Yoo Myung-hee, who is running for the director-general post at the World Trade Organization.
The two ministers have agreed to hold their next round of talks in Seoul.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.
South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha has returned from her first overseas visit in almost six months.
She had been in Berlin where she met her German counterpart Heiko Maas .
There, the German minister said Berlin welcomes South Korea's participation in this year's G7 Summit,... although he remained cautious on the issue of expanding the G7.
Our foreign affairs correspondent Yoon Jung-min reports.
On her way back home from Berlin, South Korea's foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha said South Korea will contribute as much it can to the international community, including in the fight against COVID-19.
This comes as German foreign minister Heiko Maas said during a joint press conference with Kang in Berlin on Monday,... that Germany welcomes South Korea joining the upcoming G7 summit,... calling the country "important" in the global community.
On the idea of expanding G7, however, the German minister said it should be discussed with other members of the group.
"Germany welcomes South Korea participating in the upcoming G7 summit. But expanding the membership is a different story. Minister Maas explained that there should be a lot of talks and studies with other members on the issue."
Maas also made it clear that Germany is against expanding the group if it involves letting Russia back in.
Russia was kicked out of G8 in 2014 after it annexed Crimea.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier pitched the idea of expanding the group to a G11 or G12,... including South Korea and Russia.
President Trump said on Monday that he is likely to postpone the G7 meeting and host it after the presidential election in November.
When asked about the issue, Minister Kang said South Korea has not received any official notification from Washington.
During the bilateral meeting, Kang also asked for Germany's support for South Korea's trade minister Yoo Myung-hee, who is running for the director-general post at the World Trade Organization.
The two ministers have agreed to hold their next round of talks in Seoul.
Yoon Jung-min, Arirang News.