Norwegian PM applauds Korea's success
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Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, right, speaks at a U.N. SDGs forum at the National Assembly in Seoul on April 15. / Courtesy of Norwegian Embassy
By Rachel Lee
Korea’s miraculous economic development success inspires the rest of the world, the Norwegian prime minister says.
Erna Solberg, who was on a three-day tour of Korea, believes Korea can play a key role in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by sharing its development story.
“Korea has something to teach others and a lot of countries are looking at Korea because of what enormously the country has done economically,” Solberg said at a UN SDGs forum at the National Assembly in Seoul on April 15. “Korea’s efforts and the hard work of its people are an inspiration to other countries.”
This is the prime minister’s first visit to Korea since her inauguration in October 2013. She is the second female prime minister of Norway after Gro Harlem Brundtland.
“I am here to learn from this country’s tremendous development experience,” she said.
The forum included U.N. Assistant Secretary General Thomas Gass, National Assembly Speaker Chung Eui-hwa and UNWTO ST-EP Foundation Chairwoman Dho Young-shim, who discussed the U.N. SDGs agenda, established by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
In January, the 17 SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by world leaders from 193 countries, came into force. The goals include: an end to poverty in all its forms; an end to hunger and to achieve food security; to ensure inclusive and quality education for all; achieve gender equality and empower all women, and promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth and employment.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, left, meets with Korean President Park Geun-hye at Cheong Wa Dae on April 15. At the Korea-Norway summit, the two discussed cooperation in shipbuilding and eco-friendly energy technology. / Yonhap
Solberg gave a speech under the topic “the importance of politics, partnerships and people’s participation,” all of which are all essential factors in order to eradicate extreme poverty, which she believes is the top priority.
“The SDGs provide a global response to our common challenges, and we need to step up to the plate to achieve them,” the prime minister said. “Simply establishing goals will not lift people out of poverty. Unless national governments show the political will and resolve to make progress on a given goal, progress will be limited or non-existent.”
Solberg is one of the 17 members of the SDG Advocacy Group along with Queen Mathilde of Belgium, football player Leo Messi, Gbowee Peace Foundation Director Leymah Gbowee, Founder and Executive Chairman of Alibaba Group Jack Ma and John President of Ghana Dramani Mahama.
The prime minister said: “In short, parliamentarians and other politicians have a major responsibility for ensuring that the SDGs are nationally owned and for mobilizing resources for targeted efforts to reach the goals.”
She stressed the importance of people’s participation to achieve the goals.
“The SDG process included a global consultation process. The SDG process leading up to the intergovernmental negotiations of the actual goals is the largest development conversation in history,” the prime minister said.
“Stakeholders at all levels of society participated. The millions around the world who took part in such consultations in one way or another will stay engaged.”
As Norway prioritizes education for its development, the prime minister encouraged more young people to become part of the SDGs campaign.
“Youth are important change-makers,” she said. “Your active participation in the SDG campaign is needed, not least to hold governments, politicians and the private sector accountable to the goals.”
She said: “Remember, the SDGs were adopted with the backdrop of the global climate crisis, a humanitarian crisis in Syria and a migration crisis that also poses huge challenges for Europe. The SDGs provide a global response to our common challenges, and we need to step up to the plate to achieve them.”
According to the Norwegian Embassy, the mission of the advocacy group is to generate momentum and commitment by politicians and other relevant actors in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030. Dho is also a member of the advocacy group, and has previously worked together with Solberg on the U.N. Millennium Goals, and are now cooperating closely in the SDG advocacy group.
The prime minister met Korean President Park Geun-hye earlier in the day. The two agreed to enhance cooperation in shipbuilding and maritime affairs as well as eco-friendly energy technology by carrying out joint industry-university research and creating a public-private consultative body with Norway, according to Cheong Wa Dae.
Solberg also visited Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s largest shipyard, in the southeastern city of Ulsan, on April 16.
Trade between the two nations was a record-high $7.4 billion last year. In 2006, it was $1.7 billion. The bilateral trade has increased since 2006 when a free trade deal between Korea and the European Trade Association ― Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein ― came into force.