Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening.
First of all, I would like to express a very warm welcome to all of you, especially to those who have travelled from afar to attend this inspiring event. It is a privilege to have such prominent guests among us today.
Thank you so much for honoring this night with your presence.
This evening, we have gathered on this wonderful occasion, Global Korea 2010, to learn from yesterday's achievements and mistakes and embark on a new path for a better tomorrow.
As we also celebrate the second anniversary of the Lee Myung-Bak Administration, Global Korea 2010 will serve as an opportunity to affirm Korea's enhanced position in the world and renew our commitment to the global community.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The year 2010 has begun with promises of new hopes and opportunities, but we are still faced with multiple challenges that are unprecedented in their scale and repercussions. Major global issues of our time comprising the global financial crisis, development divide, and climate change, demand us to come together, gather our wisdom and insights, and take immediate actions.
The global economy has passed the acute phase of the financial crisis and is now showing signs of recovery, but the path towards full fledged recovery is still far ahead.
Economies large and small, developed and developing, still face great challenges. Latest financial crises observed in Dubai and some Southern European countries have once again demonstrated that the global financial system is still vulnerable to systemic failures.
Because no nation is immune to the devastating effects of the instability in the global financial market, it is only through collective and concerted efforts that we will be able to overcome the challenges facing us today.
The world has made ceaseless efforts to encounter the challenges of the constantly changing world through stronger international cooperation led by the Group of 20 since the global financial crisis.
The concerted and decisive actions of the G-20 have been vital to overcoming the crisis, and will be vital to helping the world make a successful transition from global recovery to stronger, more sustainable and balanced growth. The Korean Government fully commits itself to taking a proactive role in these multilateral efforts.
Korea, as chair of this year's G-20, will be in the vanguard of implementing the reform of international financial institutions and laying the foundations for a new global financial order which will allow the world to achieve sustainable and balanced growth.
All countries will share the burden in this process and the G-20 will provide a chance for us to remind ourselves of this important principle.
Furthermore, Korea is eager to share its past experiences of the devastating impact of both the 1997 and 2008 financial crises and the efforts necessary to secure a robust recovery with the international community.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last year for the first time in history, Korea became a donor country from that of a beneficiary and now is a member of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).
There is a great deal of significance in Korea hosting the G-20 Summit because Korea has its own development experiences of the past.
Therefore, Korea is well-placed to share its experiences and expertise with the international community on strategies for development.
As chair of the G20 and a new donor country, Korea will definitely play a bridging role between the developed and the developing economies.
The Korean Government will also continue to make good on its promise to increase Korea’s ODA to 0.25% of its GNI by 2015.
Because we all know that giving help is more difficult than receiving help, Korea will spare no effort to advance Korea's aid system to build an effective, well-coordinated system that can substantially contribute to the growth of developing countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In addition to dealing with the current financial crisis and development agenda, the Korean Government is also preparing against the long-term challenges which will have a great impact on the future of humanity.
"Low Carbon, Green Growth", accordingly was officially announced as a national vision by the Korean government, striving to make 'green' and 'growth' compatible, looking beyond the current crisis and preparing for the future.
It is about addressing climate change in an aggressive manner while, at the same time, making the green technologies and industries the driver of national economic growth. But it is also much more than that.
Green growth entails a paradigm shift to a new path that satisfies the need for economic growth, social and corporate responsibility, and environmental sustainability.
I ask our friends around the world to join us in this endeavor for the promise of a brighter future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I look forward to the open and thought provoking discussions of tomorrow on these issues critical to the future of this nation and the world. We value your insights, your ideas, and expertise. It is through such efforts that warm breezes of a better future will be felt in the everyday lives of ordinary citizens around the globe.
However, as the Prime Minister, I also know by first hand experience of the jitters you get the night before you stand in front of a large audience, especially so if the audience is made of distinguished global leaders like all of you.
I would like to personally advise you to leave such worries behind for this evening and simply relax and enjoy this delightful gathering, reuniting with old friends and making new ones.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Once again, thank you all for making tonight so special. I wish the success of Global Korea 2010, and health and happiness of everyone in this room.
Thank you.
이 누리집은 대한민국 공식 전자정부 누리집입니다.
