Parliamentary leaders discuss ways to promote world peace, global development


The participants in the Group of 20 Seoul Speakers’ Consultation set out on an in-depth discussion Thursday to promote world peace and global development, especially focusing on anti-terrorism.

“Korea is a country founded on the principle of Hong-ik In-gan, or humanitarianism, and is thus ready to offer its cooperation for the development of international society,” said National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae in his opening speech.

“The global issues which we now face may no longer be solved by a single state alone so let us gather our strength and wisdom to overcome them.”

Park then chaired the first session titled “Inter-parliamentary collaboration for world peace and anti-terrorism,” an issue which was previously not included in last year’s G20 summit.

The adoption of the subject followed the political uproar and terrorist attacks which have been escalating in the Middle East and the devastating earthquake and tsunami which shook Japan in March.

It was also a topic which took up most of the day’s sessions, reflecting the strong interest of the participating states.

During the first session, speakers from Saudi Arabia and Algeria gave their presentations on the issue, representing the Muslim cultures in the Middle East and northern Africa.

“We are living in an era of diversity and should pay respect to all different cultures,” said Abdullah Mohammed Al Sheikh, president of Shura Council of Saudi Arabia.

“Saudi Arabia is making efforts to open communication channels between cultures and between religions as well.”

Abdelazziz Ziari, president of the People’s Nation Assembly of Algeria, offered to share his country’s experience as a terrorist victim state.

“Though perfect eradication may be difficult, we, as parliamentary leaders, should make the best efforts to legislate laws to prevent illicit weapon trades which support terrorist attacks,” he said.

Other speakers and delegates followed up with their opinions.

“Anti-terrorism, together with climate change, is the top significant agenda in this conference,” said Rep. Park Jin of the ruling Grand National Party.

“We hope to embrace your opinions in the draft of the joint declaration.”

Park is in charge of drafting the international version of the joint declaration which is to be adopted by the end of the three-day event.

Meanwhile, Speaker Park handed over the session chairmanship to Meira Kumar, speaker of the House of the People of India, and had bilateral meetings with some of the participating countries.

He first met with Julio Cesar Cleto Cobos, president of the house of the Argentinean Senate, and suggested the two countries collaborate closely to solve pending problems.

“I am highly impressed with Korea’s advancements, especially how it recovered from the past financial crisis,” the Argentinean parliamentary leader said.

With Harry Jenkins, speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Park discussed the possibility of a Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement in the future.

In a following meeting, Kassa Teklebrhan Gebrehiwet, speaker of the House of Federation of Ethiopia, requested Korea to offer support to his country, especially in the field of information technology.

Participants then attended a luncheon held in the newly-built traditional Korean house on the premise of the assembly, enjoying a local menu including galbi and ginseng porridge, officials said.

After lunch, more presentations were made on peace and anti-terrorism before the topic moved on to economic development strategies based on the experience of advanced countries.

Hirono Tadashi, member of the Japanese House of Councilors, took the quake-caused radiation leaks in March as an example of global disasters requiring inter-parliamentary collaboration.

“Radiation leaks result in extensive and irreversible damage and thus need firm preventive measures jointly taken by the global community,” he said.

He also thanked Korea and other countries for offering a hand in the disaster relief.

During the afternoon sessions, Park continued his one-on-one meetings with delegates from China, Algeria, the European Union, Russia, Turkey, India and Indonesia.

“I believe that the Korea-EU relationship will develop further, based on the FTA bill which was recently passed by our assembly,” Park told EU secretary-general Anders Johnsson.

After the afternoon sessions, which involved economic development strategies based on the experience of advanced countries, a presidential dinner was hosted at Cheong Wa Dae.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)