S. Korean president, French PM discuss closer trade, investment ties

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Friday met with visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon over expanding trade and investment ties, Lee's office said. Noting bilateral trade surged after a free trade deal between South Korea and the European Union went into effect in July, Lee and Fillon agreed to support small- and mid-sized companies seeking to invest in both countries. Their two-way trade in July and August reached 2.25 billion U.S. dollars, a 64 percent surge from the same period last year. The two leaders also agreed to cooperate at the upcoming G-20 summit in Cannes, with Lee pledging to contribute to drawing conclusions on issues including global macroeconomic policy coordination, development and a global safety net, according to Cheong Wa Dae. South Korea was the host of last year's G20 summit. Fillon, the first French prime minister to visit South Korea in 20 years, also met with his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan Friday to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in trade and investment. He is to leave for Japan on Saturday.