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| President Lee Myung-bak addresses at a meeting with Korean residents at a hotel in Warsaw on July 7 (Poland time). |
The President said on July 7 (Poland time) that Korea is making efforts to advance the country''s international status after the global economic crisis. He added that Korea has been recovering from the global economic crisis at a relatively fast pace at a meeting with Korean residents at a hotel in Warsaw after arriving in Poland earlier that day.
More people are losing their jobs internationally due to the current global economic crisis, which is harsher than the 1997 Asian financial crisis, but Korea''s job sharing system has surprised many countries in the world, the president said.
The President also introduced Korea''s green growth policy goals, aimed at responding to climate change issues and fostering new growth engines in the future, saying that Korea is looking toward the future despite the current global financial crisis.
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| President Lee Myung-bak (left) is welcomed by Korean children at a meeting with Korean residents in Warsaw on July 7 (Poland time). |
In regard to North Korean issues, Lee said South Korea is the only country that truly cares about Pyongyang. Lee added that all Seoul wants from Pyongyang is to give up nuclear weapons and join the international community.
Lee also said North Korea needs to become self-supporting, because it needs to take measures in case it runs out of food aid.
Regarding the Korea-EU free trade agreement (FTA), the president said he hopes the free trade deals can take effect as early as next year if the free trade negotiations reach agreement as soon as possible, which will help enhance the relations between Korea and the 27 European Union member countries.
The President said Korea will be the chair country of the Group of 20 (G-20) summit meeting, which will be held in Korea in 2010.
He also expressed his hope that Korean residents in Poland will contribute to enhancing Korea-Poland ties, saying he is happy to hear when Korean products win popularity in Polish market.
The President is to have summit talks with Polish leader Lech Kaczynski on July 8. He will then head to L''Aquila, Italy, to attend the extended G-8 summit and Major Economies Forum (MEF) on July 9-10. Lee will meet King Carl XVI Gustaf and Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt for a summit in Sweden on July 11 before flying back to Seoul on July 14.
