Henri De Raincourt, French minister for Cooperation under the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, addresses the French community during a reception at the French Embassy in Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Philip Iglauer

By Philip Iglauer

French Ambassador to Korea Elisabeth Laurin hosted Henri De Raincourt, French minister for Cooperation under the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Michèle Alliot-Marie at the French Embassy in Seoul on Thursday as De Raincourt wrapped up his two-day visit here to take part in an aid conference.

De Raincourt said the forum’s declaration ― the so-called Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, highlighted an inclusive development partnership, including not only traditional donor countries like France, but also emerging countries. The three-day forum ended Thursday.

“The Busan Conference follows on the Paris Declaration and Accra and focused on increasing transparency, effectiveness in development aid, as well as coordinating aid with emerging countries,” said De Raincourt to The Korea Times at the reception, referring to the third forum on aid effectiveness held in Accra, Ghana in 2008.

De Raincourt comes from a long political lineage. He is the son of Philippe de Raincourt, senator of the Yonne from 1948 to 1959. He is also a 4th generation-grandson of the Marquis de Sade.

“The conference facilitated a tight coordination of development goals in a global partnership between emerging and traditional donor countries.”

For the first time since the inaugural aid forum was held in Rome in 2003, emerging economies like Brazil, India, China and Mexico took part in and endorsed the Busan declaration aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of global aid and development.

“We saw huge progress made more significant given the tight calendar of meetings directly in line from the G-20 development summit in Washington, D.C. in September, the G-20 Summit in Cannes in November and this Busan conference,” he said.

“Before coming here, I’ve read and knew about Korea’s incredible evolution in a short time and, I am impressed with the work of the Korean government to raise the standard of living and in lifting up democratic society,” said De Raincourt.

Korea joined the Development Assistance Committee (DAC), the ultra exclusive club of 24 OECD donor nations and the European Commission in 2009. Korea, with Japan, is one of two Asian members of the DAC.

“On seeing Seoul and Busan for the first time, I can immediately tell by the state of development, technology and how clean the cities are why Korea is an economic model and an example of a democratic and wealthy nation for East Asia,” he said.

“Korea is a shining example of the promise of development aid,” he said. “We look forward to working with Korea on improving development politics and together participate in making development assistance in Africa more effective, which is a priority for all of us.