KF뉴스레터-Hosts of G-20 Summit Events Focus on Global Cooperation

Hosts of G-20 Summit Events Focus on Global Cooperation

The 9th Korea-France Forum, a timely occasion to promote the public diplomacy interests of Korea and France, was held at the Grand InterContinental Seoul (September 6-7, 2010). Leading figures of the two countries discussed a variety of issues related to mutual concerns and international cooperation at the forum co-organized by the Korea Foundation and the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

The Korea-France Forum was attended by a 20-member French delegation, led by IFRI Director Thierry de Montbrial, and 26 participants from Korea, headed by Korea Foundation President Kim Byung-kook. Comprised of three discussion and two roundtable sessions, the forum provided a meaningful venue for the in-depth discussion of matters of mutual concern and the efforts to promote international cooperation. The forum participants, representing the political, business, cultural, and government sectors of the two countries, included such legislators as Patrick Beaudoin, Claude Gatignol, Kim Hyo Jae, Shin Nakyun, and Hyun Gyoung Byoung.

Bilateral Issues
The G-20 Summit, which was formed in response to the global financial crisis, emerged as a central discussion topic since the upcoming G-20 Summit events are being hosted by Korea in November 2010, and then by France in May 2011. At the 7th Korea-France Forum in 2008, a proposal was discussed to broaden the scope of this forum gathering, from its main focus on bilateral issues and cooperation to include regional issues and relations between Northeast Asia and Europe as well as international cooperation. Finally, this year’s forum session provided a timely opportunity to underscore the relevance of this broadened perspective.
President Kim and Director Montbrial cochaired the initial session that discussed the need for a new global financial system and international cooperation for development initiatives. The participants agreed that the two countries should actively contribute to the G-20 Summit based on a strategic approach. The second session focused on economic cooperation between Korea and France, in particular regard to collaborative efforts in the industrial and technology sectors. The participants of both sides felt that more active exchange and cooperation in these areas will continue to trend upward, while the soon-to-be-concluded Korea-EU FTA should bring about a more advantageous environment for future growth. As for areas in need of substantial capital investment, such as the nuclear energy or aerospace industries, they agreed on the desirability of pursuing opportunities in the world market through joint projects, involving the business and government sectors of the two countries.
During the third session, which highlighted various social issues caused by the influences of globalization, the participants described their personal experiences and proposed measures to address matters of mutual concern. They reached a conclusion that Korea and France should engage in more detailed discussion and cooperative efforts based on each other’s policy experiences, related to such issues as a fast-aging society, reinforcing the social safety net, gender equality, immigration, and social integration.

Joint Communiqué
At the general session on the second day, the discussion centered on the upcoming G-20 Summit events, along with matters related to Korea-France cultural exchange and the current situation of the Korean Peninsula. The participants also adopted a joint communiqué to record the outcome of the discussions and various matters that called for follow-up attention. Director Laure Coudret Laut of the French Cultural Center in Seoul introduced the highly positive and encouraging situation about activities and exchange between the two countries, in the fields of culture, art, and education, and also mentioned certain problem areas and proposals. As for the Korean Peninsula, the participants pointed out that the cooperation of France was urgently needed to help improve the human rights situation in North Korea. The French side indicated that their government has put forth continuous efforts in this regard. As for the return of Korea’s historical s, which French troops had looted from Oegyujanggak, the royal archives of Korea, this matter remains a point of contention in Korea-France diplomatic relations. The participants thus hoped for the two governments to engage in practical negotiations so that an acceptable solution can be realized.
The participants looked over a draft joint communiqué drawn up by IFRI Asian Center Director Francoise Nicola and then adopted a final statement, following minor revisions. To conclude the procedures, lawmakers Claude Gatignol and Kim Hyo Jae delivered final remarks to wrap up the 9th Korea-France Forum. This gathering should be well remembered for the following two points: First, Korea and France as “Grandes puissances moyennes” (large-size middle powers) were able to exchange ideas about their cooperative efforts to promote a global agenda as hosts of the upcoming G-20 Summit events. Second, the forum deserves to be highly commended for its adoption of a joint communiqué to and publicize the session’s outcomes and recommendations for each country’s government and public.

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Hosts of G-20 Summit Events Focus on Global Cooperation

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