Koreans Need to Have Global Mindset
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak urged Koreans to have a global mindset, Wednesday, saying that the nation is no longer a "peripheral" country anymore.
In a press conference broadcast live from Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said Korea was becoming one of the countries that make important decisions on global issues, moving away from being a nation that followed the course set by advanced economies.
"The hosting of the fifth G20 summit in Korea next year is a remarkable achievement for the country. I will propose diverse solutions at the summit to help the world achieve sustainable growth following the economic crisis and address the issues of climate change, energy crises and poverty."
The President held the press conference days after the G20 made a unanimous decision to offer the rights to South Korea to host a summit next year.
The government will choose the host city this year.
He said Korea will play a leading role in mapping out post-crisis global economic programs at the G20 Korea summit.
He added that the hosting of the summit reflects the country's surging status in the international community, providing it with a crucial opportunity to join the world's decision-makers.
Korea will actively represent the interests of emerging economies to help the world achieve a more balanced growth, he said.
The President also reaffirmed his earlier pledge to increase Korea's donations to help promote economic development in poor countries and step up efforts to share its growth experience with them.
"As the country's international status rises, our responsibility and duty to the international community also grows. We should contribute more to the world as a country standing at its center," he said.
Lee said he wants to play a central role in resolving global issues, including North Korea's nuclear threats.
"We should offer our unique vision and solutions for not only inter-Korean issues but global issues," he said, adding his recent proposal for a "grand bargain" with North Korea on its nuclear program was a part of such efforts.
Lee said he already shared the idea with the leaders of the United States, Japan, China and Russia, and received positive responses. "If North Korea has the real intention of giving up its nuclear program, it will find it very attractive to accept the deal," he said.
Under the initiative, Korea seeks a "one-shot" deal, offering economic incentives in return for the North's scrapping of its nuclear program at the same time under a strict give-and-take approach.