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EU 회원국 대사/주요 기업인 초청 만찬 계기 만찬사
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- 2007-07-06 16:38:10
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EU 회원국 대사/주요 기업인 초청 만찬 계기 만찬사
<2007.5.21(월) 19:00, 장관공관>
■ Opening : Welcoming Remarks
ㅇ March 25 of this year was the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Treaty of Rome
■ Assesment of Korea-EU Relations
ㅇ Relations continue to deepen and expand
- satisfied with a "comprehensive partnership" with EU through close political dialogues including Summit meeting
- request to support for 2014 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic, 2012 Yeosu World Expo
■ Towards Further Integrated Economic Relations
ㅇ Major exporting market as 2nd largest trading partner and biggest investor to Korea
- steadfast increase in bilateral trade volume and investment
※ trade volume doubled from 38.8 billion US dollars in 2002 to 78.5 billion US dollars in 2006
※ total investment volume reach 40.5 billion US dollars
- Much room for further expansion of trade and investment
ㅇ New economic opportunity through the Korea-EU FTA
- Seek a balanced, comprehensive and high level FTA with due consideration of mutual sensitivities
- To be a new generation FTA as guiding light to multilateral trading system
- Milestone for upgrading already existing close economic ties
ㅇ Diversification and Expansion of Cooperation
- Deepen current fields of cooperation such as Science and Technology Industry, Education etc
■ Closing
ㅇ In tandem with the FTA policy, I recently took the initiative of launching a three-way cooperative dialogue - among the diplomatic corps in Seoul, major Korean corporations, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
- to promote economic and commercial opportunities for the mutual benefit of both the diplomatic corps and Korean companies.
ㅇ So far, we have already had severeal regional gatherings - Southeast Asia, South Asia, GRULAC (or the group of Latin America & Caribbean Countries) and Middle East.
ㅇ But, these are only the beginning of the process. The important task lying ahead is to come up with ways to produce tangible benefits so as to make the process sustainable and durable. In this regard, I would welcome your suggestions and advice.