BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday that he was in favor of South Korea's participation in a possible Group of Seven (G7) summit in the United States.

At the joint press conference with his South Korean counterpart Kang Kyung-wha after the meeting, Maas told reporters that "South Korea is one of the countries that are of particular importance globally, that is also our value partners, so I would very much welcome that."

Maas said that he was also open to a long-term expansion of the format of the G7 group. Those involved should talk about that, he said.

The United States is chairing the G7 this year. President Donald Trump originally wanted the summit to take place in Florida in June, then at the president's country house in Camp David, and then in Washington.

However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was not ready to travel to Washington in June because of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump then announced that he would postpone the meeting -- preferably to September -- and would also invite Russia, South Korea, India and Australia.

Maas and Kang met for a strategic dialogue to discuss important current issues, including the cooperation between Germany and South Korea and issues such as COVID-19, according to the German Federal Foreign Office. Enditem

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