Seoul - Yonhap
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik will hold talks with his French counterpart Francois Fillon this week to discuss a range of issues, including ways to increase cooperation between the two nations, Kim\'s office said Wednesday. Fillon is scheduled to visit Seoul on Friday and Saturday on a two-nation trip that will also take him to Japan Saturday. He will be the first French prime minister to visit South Korea in 20 years. During talks slated for Friday, the two leaders will discuss ways to strengthen practical cooperative ties between their nations, especially in trade and investment after a free trade agreement between South Korea and the European Union went into effect in July, the office said in a release. Kim will also discuss how to help France successfully host the summit meeting of the Group of 20 leading economies on Nov. 3-4 in Cannes. South Korea hosted the last G-20 summit last year. A day before the bilateral talks, Kim will host a luncheon for the French prime minister, the office added.