`End to Cold War' Tops Diplomatic Goal
Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Lee Joung-binn yesterday put forward Korea's four diplomatic goals for this year, including an end to the Cold War rivalry on the Korean peninsula.
Source : Korea Times
Foreign Affairs-Trade Minister Lee Joung-binn yesterday put forward Korea's four diplomatic goals for this year, including an end to the Cold War rivalry on the Korean peninsula.
He made the remarks during a speech at the annual conference of Korea's overseas mission chiefs, which opened yesterday morning at the Central Government Complex in downtown Seoul.
The other three goals are the continuous implementation of liberal economic policies, regional cooperation and the pursuit of such universal values as democracy and human rights, he said.
``By maintaining the principles of the engagement policy, we will strengthen our diplomatic efforts to promote inter-Korean dialogue and expand exchanges and cooperation,'' the minister said.
Noting that there are signs of change in U.S.-North Korea and Japan-North Korea relations, the minister said the government will endeavor to make the improved relations between Seoul's allies and North Korea ultimately lead to inter-Korean rapprochement.
With regards to regional cooperation, the minister underlined the importance of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) III, set for October in Seoul. The summit will attract leaders from 25 Asian and European countries.
This year, due to budgetary constraints, only the nation's 48 mission chiefs based in Europe, Africa and the Middle East were invited to the Seoul meeting.
The ministry has set three themes for this year's meeting: Diplomacy conducive to inter-Korean peaceful coexistence and cooperation, diplomacy pursuing world-class economic competitiveness and diplomacy open to citizens.
President Kim Dae-jung yesterday hosted a dinner for the chiefs, while Prime Minister Park Tae-joon organized a luncheon.
The participants are scheduled to hold five plenary sessions on these issues and visit industrial sites, as economic and investment issues are among the main themes of debate.
The diplomats will also hold dialogue with heads of the nation's small- and medium-sized industries, and will tour foreign-invested companies.
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