The Honorable Petro Lizana Greve, President of the Society
of Industrial Promotion; the Honorable Roberto Enrique Maristany Watt,
President of the Chile-Korea Committee; and business leaders from
the Republics of Chile and Korea, I am exceedingly pleased to speak
on the cooperative partnership between the Republics of Chile and
Korea at this gathering of business leaders from our two countries.
I am deeply grateful to President Lizana and President Maristany,
as well as other Chilean and Korean business leaders, who arranged
this opportunity for me.
Chile is the first destination of my current round of visits to four
South American nations. Together with my delegation, I chose Chile,
whose land extends farthest along the continent, as the first leg
of our trip because Chile has led the successful move for democratization
and economic growth in this region.
Today, the world is fond of calling Chile "the rising star on
the Central and South American continent. "Under the outstanding
leadership of President Eduardo Frei, Chile has developed democratic
institutions and is building the foundation for long-term national
development in preparation for the forthcoming 21st century.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, Chile's economy has continued to
grow at a high average annual rate of some 6 percent. Last year Chile's
inflation and rate of unemployment both showed a low single digit
level, with trade recording a surplus. Such a remarkable economic
performance has made Chile stand out as an exemplary national economy
in Central and south America and, I believe, is the valuable result
of the foresight of the Chilean leader and the exertions of the
Chilean people.
Even in the 1970s and '80s when most Central and South American
countries were experiencing economic difficulties, Chile consistently
pursued policies of market economics and openness that have paved
the way for economic prosperity today
On the other hand, Chile is also contributing positively to the
development of the world economy and the common prosperity of the
world community through active participation in the regional economic
cooperation system.
Chile became the first South American country to join the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 1994 and has since been expanding
cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region. By concluding a free trade
accord with MERCOSUR, the South American common market, Chile is
also expected to contribute actively to the economic development
of this region.
Business leaders of Chile,
Rising from poverty and underdevelopment and from territorial division
and a devastating war, the Republic of Korea has worked hard with
blood and sweat over the past half a century to emerge as the 10th
largest industrial country in the world.
The Republic of Korea is the 12th largest trading country in the
world and is now becoming one of the five largest producers of semiconductors,
automobiles and steel. Since my inauguration as President of a civilian
Administration in 1993, I have resolutely pushed a policy of change
and reform. As a result, democracy has taken root in our society.
Building upon the solid foundation of substantial industrialization
and democratization, the goal of state affairs was set as segyehwa,
or globalization. Under this goal, continuous efforts are being
made for openness and reform in all aspects of our society.
Externally, the Republic of Korea would like to expand and increase
exchanges and cooperation with each and every country, thereby contributing
much to the peace and prosperity of the world.
We know well that Chile attaches great importance to Asia as a
key region in its effort to achieve continued economic development.
Chile's policy emphasis on Asia will help in a major way to advance
the advent of the Pacific era in the 21st century.
The Republic of Korea wants Chile and Korea to share each other's
development experience gained in the course of industrialization.
Moreover, ROK firms that are active in many areas of the world are
deeply interested in Chile's industrial development and would very
much like to cooperate in such endeavors.
Chilean and Korean business leaders, The Pacific Ocean that geographically
separates the Republic of Korea from Chile will from now on become
the waterway of cooperation that links our two countries together.
Our two countries have both experienced political and economic
difficulties that are very similar and have shown indefatigable
courage in overcoming such difficulties. At about the same time
that Chile was regaining democracy, an era of genuine democratization
has also come to the Republic of Korea as a crowning result long
struggle. Both Chile and the Republic of Korea, striving with a
firm conviction in the positive principles of a market economy and
free trade, have finally achieved a phenomenal economic leap.
Our two countries, which have steadily maintained exchanges since
the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1962, are becoming
closer partners as the importance of the Pacific region has begun
to mount since the beginning of the 1990s.
Bilateral trade between our two nations has risen from US$600 million
a year to as much as US$1.6 billion a year over the past five years.
The Republic of Korea has become Chile's fifth largest export market,
while Chile has become the Republic of Korea's second largest trading
partner in South America. Two-way trade between Chile and the Republic
of Korea, if it continues to increase at the current pace, will
reach more than US$3 billion a year.
When the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) forum was born
seven years ago, we Koreans firmly believed that the forthcoming
21st century would unfurl a Pacific era. This belief has now begun
to prove real. The course of world history is now moving vigorously
toward the Pacific era as the 21st century approaches.
The pacific region continues to grow more dynamically than any
other region of the world. Today langescale muertments are being
actively maele in the pacific sphere where proauction activity is
very vigorous. This pacific region that accounts for more than half
of world trade has emerged as the trade centre and as one of the
main pivots of the world economy.
Business leaders of our two countries,
Our two nations must build a cooperative partnership and raise
it a notch higher, working more closely together to promote the
common prosperity of the pacific region. To that end, our two countries
need to do the following.
First, we should further develop mutually beneficial economic relations
based on mutual complementarity. By effectively bringing together
our comparative advantages in terms of natural resources, technology
and capital resources, our two countries will be able to successfully
advance together into the Central and south American markets.
It is at once possible and desirable for firms of our two countries
to cooperate closely with each other in Chile's ambitious infrastructure
development projects now underway, as well as its natural resources
development projects. In this respect, I believe that the Republic
of Korea's admittance into the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
can provide a strong foundation for implementing cooperation in
such Chilean development projects.
Second, our two countries should begin by exerting joint efforts
to help promote free trade and encourage open economies in the Pacific
region. The development of free trade in the Pacific region is essential
for the promotion of the common prosperity of Asia and Central and
South America as well.
Initially, our two nations should encourage and promote free trade
by substantially opening up their markets and by spurring mutual
investment. furthermore, our two countries should become solid bridges
for the other to advance into the Asian and the Central and South
American regions, respectively.
The Republic of Korea will continue to actively expand the range
of cooperation with Chile, which is the only South American country
that is a member of the APEC forum.
The republic of Korea and the Republic of Chile should more actively
spearhead efforts to promote greater market opening and investment
liberalization in not only the APEC region, but also the entire
Asian region as well as the Central and South American region.
Third, Chile and the Republic of Korea share the common goals of
democratization and the development of an advanced country. Both
Chile and the Republic of Korea underwent the lengthy, thorny process
of democratization before they could genuinely enjoy the economic
prosperity of today. The past ordeal made us realize the value of
democracy and in the process we managed to overcome poverty and
strengthened our resolve to build advanced nations.
Political democratization and economic prosperity are inseparable,
they are essential to each other, going hand in hand. Without both,
it is impossible to build an advanced country in the real sense
of the word and to provide genuine public well-being. Our two countries
should make every effort so that their common ideals of democratization
and building an advanced country may spread to other Asian and South
American countries.
ROK and Chilean business leaders,
The visit to the Republic of Korea by Chilean President Eduardo
Frei two years ago laid a historic milestone in the development
of closer bilateral relations between our two countries.
During our summit meeting this morning, President Frei and I had
wide-ranging talks on the need for and ways to promote bilateral
economic cooperation.
I understand that the leaders of our two nations also got together
today and talked about ways and to expand economic cooperation between
our two countries. I believe that through these talks you all must
have realized the limitless potential for cooperation between our
two nations and must have affirmed the mutual trust and warm friendship
between you, the Chilean and Korean business leaders.
I am certain that increasingly active exchanges between Chilean
and ROK businessmen and entrepreneurs in the future will further
promote cooperation between our two nations and serve to lay the
ground for the advent of a great Pacific era. The ROK Government
will provide active support for such cooperation between firms of
our two countries.
Once again, I express my appreciation to you, the leaders of Chile's
business organizations and other business leaders from the Republic
of Korea and Chile, for having invited me to speak to you.
Thank you. |
