S. Korea, France to set up cooperation channel on strategic industries, trade

Seoul, September 7 - Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back met with his Philippine counterpart on Monday to discuss regional security concerns and opportunities to bolster bilateral arms cooperation, according to Seoul's defense ministry. The meeting took place during the Seoul Defense Dialogue, which began earlier on the same day. Both ministers recognized the long-standing trust between South Korea and the Philippines and pledged to expand cooperation across various sectors, including personnel exchanges and joint drills.

The two officials also agreed to strengthen defense sector collaboration by building upon an agreement reached at a bilateral summit of their leaders held in March. Ahn emphasized the superiority of South Korean weapons systems and requested assistance for South Korean companies involved in the modernization project of the Philippine military. Teodoro praised the South Korean arms industry and expressed optimism about future cooperation in the defense sector.

Ahn noted that the South Korean government is striving for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, working in coordination with the international community. The Philippine minister expressed solidarity with Seoul's efforts in this regard.