목요대화 바로가기 목요대화 menu
검색 열기
 
 

태극기 이미지

국가상징 이란?

한나라의 공식적인 표상으로서 우리나라는 태극기·애국가·무궁화·국새·나라문장을 국가상징으로 하고 있습니다.

닫기

국무총리

  • home
  • 국무총리
  • 연설문
  • 역대 연설문․메시지

라트비아총리 환영 만찬사<영문>

  • 작성자 : 김진옥
  • 등록일 : 2009.01.21
  • 조회수 : 3469
Your Excellency Ivars Godmanis,
Distinguished members of the Latvian delegation,
and distinguished guests,

It is a great honor and privilege to have with us tonight Your Excellency Ivars Godmanis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia. On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Korea, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to Your Excellency and the Latvian delegation, who have traveled a great distance to be here with us tonight.

Excellency,
Distinguished Guests,

I believe that today's meeting, the first of this kind between Korea and Latvia, was very productive and fruitful. I tremendously enjoyed discussions with Your Excellency and was very much impressed by your insightful views and foresight on various areas of our mutual interest.

As you all know, Prime Minister Godmanis is one of the most prominent leaders who have greatly contributed to laying the foundation of the Republic of Latvia. As Vice President of the Latvian Popular Front, Your Excellency dedicated himself to reclaiming freedom and independence of Latvia from the former Soviet Union.

Having served as the first Prime Minister of the newly-born Latvian government, he exercised outstanding leadership in transforming his country from a communist regime into a vibrant market economy in such a short period of time. I believe that Your Excellency's re-appointment as Prime Minister for the second term demonstrates the high esteem in which you are held by all Latvians, in and out of government.

Excellency,

Korea and Latvia attained full membership to the UN on the very same day, 17 September 1991, and established diplomatic relations a month later.

Our diplomatic history is relatively short and our economic relationship has remained at a moderate level until recently. There are, however, several positive signs showing that our two countries are getting much closer.

In political arena, I am very pleased to note that the Korean-Latvian Parliamentary Friendship Association has been set up in the Saeima early last year. Headed by former foreign minister Atis Pabriks, the Association will certainly provide new momentum for promoting friendship and expanding cooperation between our two peoples.

In the area of economic cooperation, trade volume between our two countries has been rapidly growing, quadrupling from 27 million in 2003 to 117 million US dollars in 2008.

Furthermore, as the increasing number of Korean business leaders has come to find Latvia a very attractive investment destination, Korean companies are eager to open their regional headquarters in Riga, with the value of Korean investment in Latvia soaring to 78 million US dollars last year.

Reflecting Korean people's growing interest in the Baltic countries, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) organized a very meaningful event last year.

I am pleased to note that the 2008 Baltic States Investment Day held in Seoul was a great success, providing opportunities for Korean business community to take a fresh look at Baltic countries and to explore potential fields of economic cooperation between Korea and the region.

Excellency,

Despite the great geographic distance between us, we share many commonalities. Throughout our long histories our people have strived, with success, to preserve our respective national identities, unique cultures and languages.

Furthermore, both our cultures are richly endowed with the love for life, which is embodied in our folk songs and dances. The contemporary Latvian poet Imants Ziedonis has described culture as 'something which is, lives, wants to live and flourish.' I am confident that these common experiences and shared cultural traits help to bring our people closer together.

Excellency,

It is my sincere hope that your first official trip to Korea, first as Latvian Prime Minister, could provide great momentum for Latvia and Korea to expand horizons of cooperation in a wide range of areas spanning trade, investment, culture, environment and renewable energy.

Beyond the geographical distance situating Korea and Latvia at the other ends of Eurasia, I am confident that our two nations have unbounded potentials of cultivating cooperation and developing a robust relationship in the years to come.

Welcoming Your Excellency to Korea once again, I sincerely hope that Your Excellency and your delegation will reap fruitful results from this visit, and take home with you pleasant memories of Korea.

Excellency,
Distinguished Guests,

To the continued good health of Prime Minister Godmanis, to the eternal prosperity of Latvia, and to the everlasting friendship between our two peoples, I would now like to propose a toast.

Prieka !