Hanjin Group chairman Cho Yang-ho visited Paris on Wednesday to attend the first meeting of organizers of the “2015-2016 Korea-France Year” event celebrating the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2016.

Cho, the Korean head of the organizing committee, discussed diverse issues regarding the planned event together with his French counterpart Henri Loyrette, former director of Louvre Museum, and other government officials from the two countries.

“We hope to serve a big role in bringing the ties between the two nations even further,” said Chang Se-ho, a spokesman for Korean Air, Hanjin’s flagship affiliate.

A joint committee has been set up to prepare for the event. Several programs are planned to cover a variety of sectors including culture, politics, the economy and education.

The “Korean Year” event is expected to be held in France from September 2015 to August 2016, while the “French Year” event will start in January 2016 and run all year.

The Hanjin chief has continued efforts to strengthen exchanges between the two countries since being named the Korean chairman of a group consisting of Korean and French business leaders in 2000.

Based on his achievements during this term, Cho was named the head of the organizing committee. Both the Korean and French governments unanimously agreed on his appointment, Hanjin officials said.

Cho will serve as the committee chief until 2016. He will be in charge of arranging key events including meetings between Korean and French business people, and finding corporate sponsors.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)