APEC 2005会议韩国总统卢武铉的开幕演讲

　　APEC 2005会议韩国总统卢武铉的开幕演讲

　　
　　The Honorable Chairman Hyun Jae-hyun of the APEC CEO Summit and economic leaders of the Asia-Pacific region,

　　Thank you Citigroup Senior Vice Chairman Mr. William R. Rhodes for your kind introduction, which is a far better than how I remember of myself.  

　　Many internationally renowned business leaders are gathered here, befitting the reputation of this event as the biggest business forum in the Asia-Pacific region. I wholeheartedly welcome you all to Korea.

　　The APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting is to take place in just three hours. It appears to me, however, that this gathering might be of more material gain.

　　First of all, I congratulate you on the 10th anniversary of the APEC CEO Summit. As an instrument through which the business leaders in the region offer advice to and communicate with the leaders of the member economies, this summit has contributed significantly to shared prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. Your great service is much appreciated and I expect that this year’s summit will become a good opportunity to broaden understanding between governments and businesses.

　　Distinguished participants,

　　The Asia-Pacific region is at the center of prosperity with the world’s most dynamic growth. Exchanges and cooperation among the member economies within the region have also been accelerated. In case of Korea, this region accounts for 70 per cent of international trade and 64 per cent of foreign investments.

　　Nonetheless, we need to make much more efforts to accomplish an Asia-Pacific economic community, which is the ultimate goal of APEC.

　　First of all, we should strengthen open multilateral trade system through steadily lowering trade and investment barriers. In addition, we need to make parallel efforts to help reduce the gap between the member economies through economic and technical cooperation. It is for this reason that, as the chair of this year’s APEC, Korea has initiated the theme "Towards One Community: Meet the Challenge, Make the Change."

　　This afternoon, the APEC leaders will discuss how to achieve the Bogor Goals and present the Busan Roadmap to the Bogor Goals. The Busan Roadmap will incorporate some concrete measures, including the advancement of World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda negotiations as well as trade liberalization through free trade agreements.

　　Establishing a "secure and transparent business environment" is another major subject of this year’s meeting. Collaboration to fight against terrorism, collective action to cope with public health threats and disasters, and cooperation to combat corruption will be discussed in depth.

　　In addition, we have agreed earlier to pursue cultural cooperation this year to enhance mutual understanding among the member economies and to promote a sense of community. Accordingly, as the first project, the special APEC Film Week was held in Busan on October 6-14.

　　Such initiatives will translate diversity among the member economies into a driving force for exchanges and cooperation and will contribute to the making of APEC a more trustworthy community.

　　Distinguished participants,

　　As suggested by the proverb, "A bowlful of gems become a peace of jewelry only if they are neatly strung together," you are the key players to transform the boundless potential of the Asia-Pacific region into a reality. Your creative cooperation will enhance any collaboration among the member economies in most substantive and effective ways.

　　In this light, the meaning of this gathering under the theme of "Building a Successful Partnership in the Asia-Pacific Region" is profound. The closer you collaborate, the quicker the future of the Asia-Pacific economic community will further advance.

　　Distinguished CEOs,

　　Many of you may have considerable interest in the future of Korean economy.

　　To give my conclusion first, the prospect for Korean economy is bright.

　　First of all, the stock market that indicates the future of economy is at a record high. Despite skyrocketing oil prices, exports surpassed 250 billion U.S. dollars last year and aggregate exports during the first nine months increased by 12.4 per cent. The OECD and the IMF forecast that the Korean economy would grow by approximately 5 per cent next year, and international rating agencies have also upgraded Korea’s sovereign rating one after another.

　　The road the Korean economy is taking is clear.

　　First, it is innovation in science and technology. We have been focusing our efforts on technological innovation and nurturing a talent pool so that both domestic and foreign businesses would want to invest in Korea and that they will leap high yields on their investments. I hope you will be able to confirm first hand on this occasion our efforts focusing upon the development of IT, BT and other future growth engine industries on the basis of solid manufacturing industry.

　　Korea has also been pursuing relentlessly reform measures to establish a transparent and fair market. Phrases like government-controlled economy, government-controlled financing, or collusion between the government and business are all things of the past. A market under the initiative of the private sector and with merit-based competitions is on its way. The system and practice in each sector of economy is being adapted to global standards, and social culture is changing rapidly to accommodate more rational thinking.

　　We are also making best efforts to reduce regulations and to improve the living environment for foreign residents. As many as 16,000 foreign businesses are already operating in Korea and 263 of them are the Fortune 500 companies. With an objective to establish Korea as the most business-friendly nation in Asia, we project to increase FDIs to account for 14 per cent of the nation’s GDP by the year 2012.

　　Through such efforts, Korea will proceed to become an advanced economy in name and substance as well as a hub of logistics, finance and R&D in Northeast Asia.

　　This is the right time to invest in Korea. If you invest at early signs of potentials, your yields will be that much greater. I want you to succeed without fail and firmly believe that you will succeed if you choose Korea.

　　Distinguished participants,

　　Korea’s support for the multilateral trading system is firm. Korean economic growth has been made possible on the basis of free trade. We will continue to aim at realizing an advanced nation of international trade through proactive market opening.

　　Currently, we are negotiating for free trade agreements with approximately twenty major trading partners and will continue to concentrate efforts on concluding them. We will also contribute positively to the successful settlement of the WTO DDA negotiations.

　　With regard to the North Korean nuclear issue, some difficulties may lie ahead but I believe that we will eventually arrive at desirable outcomes. To ascertain such results without fail, the Korean Government will continue to cooperate closely with the countries involved.

　　Distinguished CEOs and ladies and gentlemen from home and abroad,

　　Liberalization and globalization are an irreversible tide of the times. With the advancement of globalization, however, an adverse effect of socio-economic disparities is also on the rise. In many economies including Korea, disparities between industries and businesses lead to disparities in employment and income and to disparities in education and investments in human resources, further widening the gap between different income groups.

　　Such socio-economic disparities are likely not only to hinder social integration but also to discourage consumption, thus causing a contraction of the market and investments eventually. When the legacies of poverty produce an increasing number of people without hope, it alone can constitute a threat to peace. It is time for us to search for ways we all can share the fruit of development stemming from globalization.

　　During this APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, I would like to put forth this issue in search of collective wisdom of the member economies. In this regard, the role of those of you present here is also important. Reduced socio-economic disparities as well as sustainable development will be made possible when government policy initiatives are combined with a spirit of coexistence and mutual help shared by the business leaders.

　　Distinguished participants,

　　We already have a general direction where we should go from here in the years to come. That is the future of shared prosperity through open door policies and cooperation.

　　What we need now is the will to act on that vision and translate it into reality. Let us look farther and join our forces together for greater benefits. Let us march forward together, hand in hand, for a bright future for the Asia-Pacific community.

　　This City of Busan is a hub port of Northeast Asia linking Asia and the Pacific. This is an ideal place where you can nurture exchanges and friendship. I hope you will have a pleasant and productive time during your stay despite busy schedule.

　　Thank you.