Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will visit Paris from June 19-23 to promote Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo. He is shown here on June 9 at the first meeting on the inspection and coordination of state affairs at Government Complex-Seoul. (Prime Minister's Secretariat)

By Park Hye Ri and Lee Jihae

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will visit Paris from June 19-23 to promote Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo.

The Prime Minister's Secretariat on June 16 announced the itinerary of his first overseas trip under the new administration.

He will attend the International Bureau of Expositions' (BIE) 170th general assembly in the French capital and lead activities to promote Busan's bid.

Prime Minister Han attended the BIE's 141st meeting in July 2007 and 142nd in November that year. He took part as prime minister at the time to help the successful bid of Yeosu, Jeollanam-do Province, to host the 2012 World Expo.

At this year's assembly, the three countries bidding for the 2030 event -- Korea (Busan), Italy (Rome) and Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) -- will hold their first offline presentations in front of all BIE member states.

In its pitch, Korea will present its vision of a Busan-hosted Expo as a platform for global transition toward a better future as humanity faces a pandemic, technological disparity and climate change. It will also present a video message from President Yoon Suk Yeol seeking support for the bid.

In Paris, Prime Minister Han will hold diplomatic activities with the BIE and delegates of member states for Busan's bid. He will also attend an event with ethnic Koreans in France on showing solidarity for supporting the campaign.

The secretariat said, "Busan hosting the World Expo will show the world our industrial and cultural capacities while simultaneously attracting 50.5 million visitors and creating huge economic effects such as production worth KRW 43 trillion, added value of KRW 18 trillion and creation of 500,000 jobs."

hrhr@korea.kr