At the invitation of Foreign Minister Kim Sung-Hwan, his counterparts from 14 Pacific Island countries (PICs) gathered at Seoul's Shilla Hotel on May 31 for the 1st Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
In the Meeting themed "Vision & Action: Cooperation across the Ocean," the Ministers exchanged in-depth views on ways for Korea to expand development cooperation for the PICs as well as how the participating countries can work together in addressing climate change. Following the Meeting, the Ministers adopted a joint statement containing major achievements of the Meeting.
In his opening speech and presentation, Minister Kim noted that the southern Pacific region is an important axis of the New Asia Initiative and that the Korean government will expand development assistance to the PICs and work more closely with them on such common issues as climate change and environment.
In the first session on "ways to expand Korea-PICs development cooperation," Minister Kim discussed specific ways to bolster cooperation, including increasing the cooperation fund for the PICs to US$1 million from the previous US$300,000; expanding and improving educational and training projects; and holding the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on a regular basis.
In the second session on "ways to boost the Korea-PICs partnership on environment and climate change," Minister Kim introduced Korea's green-growth vision and its efforts to win the bid to host the COP18 (the 18th Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) slated for 2012, while agreeing on the seriousness of the climate change issue.
The first and highest-level meeting between the Korean government and the entire group of the PICs laid the groundwork for the Korean government to expand its network of diplomatic cooperation as well as its substantive cooperation with the region in the fields of resources and distant-water fisheries. Furthermore, the Meeting is expected to help solidify the PICs' support for Korea on the international stage and Korea's stature as a responsible member of the international community.
