ID :
107042
Wed, 02/17/2010 - 13:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/107042
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(Yonhap Interview) Seoul must play balancing role in G-20 summit: British ambassador
(ATTN: photos available)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has shown one of the strongest
performances worldwide in overcoming the global economic downturn, but it must
not overlook gloomier financial situations elsewhere as it hosts the G-20 summit
in November, the top British envoy to Seoul said.
"(In the G-20 summit), you want to have an ambition to move things along, but not
too much ambition to leave others behind. I think this is part of Korea's
responsibility," British Ambassador Martin Uden said in an interview with Yonhap
News Agency.
"It is easy to forget, especially in Korea where the economy is doing a great job
and a 5 percent growth is forecasted (this year), that it's not as easy for the
rest of the world, where the market situation is much worse," Uden added. "Making
sure that the overall world economy is on the right track is the most important
issue for both the summit and Korea's chairmanship."
South Korea will be hosting the summit of the world's 20 largest developed and
emerging economies in November, as the global economy is slowly crawling out of
the financial crisis that hit Wall Street and rippled across the world in autumn
2008.
Seoul is the co-chair with Canada of the newest round of the world's premier
forum on economic cooperation. Toronto will host the G-20 in June.
South Korea's export-dependent economy was among the hardest-hit by the downturn,
but it has been on a course of quick recovery, with the government forecasting
growth of a maximum 5 percent this year.
Its hosting of the upcoming summit has had a positive influence in Seoul's
relations with London, which hosted the third meeting last year, the British
ambassador said.
"The connections that'd been made on economic policies between our two countries
have been remarkable over the past 18 months because of (the two countries'
hosting of) the G-20 summit," he said.
Claiming Seoul and London "share very similar views" on many economic issues,
Uden said South Korea should take the lead from Britain and make efforts to
reflect the views of underdeveloped economies in the G-20 forum.
"The G-20 will represent 85 percent of the world's GDP, so on economic issues, it
can have an important influence. But you must make sure that other countries
don't feel excluded and have the opportunity to put their views forward even if
they are not in the room," he said.
"When we prepared for the London summit, we made effort in getting around the
world so that ASEAN and other economic groups were properly represented in the
summit," Uden added. "I'm sure Canada and Korea will do the same thing."
During a recent meeting with the top 30 conglomerates here, South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak said his officials plan to visit developing nations that
are not participating in the summit to ensure their voices are heard.
"As we move from G-8 to G-20, we must remember other voices have to be heard,"
Uden stressed. "And things we could do in the G-8, among a very like-minded group
of countries, can't necessarily be done in the G-20."
Getting on a path toward sustainable and balanced growth and reforming financial
institutions are among the key issues to be dealt with in the Seoul summit. The
British envoy remained cautious over whether November would be an adequate time
to start discussing a so-called "exit strategy" from worldwide economic stimulus
measures.
"What's going to dominate in November will depend on what happens in Canada in
June and developments in the real world," he said. "Exit strategy is one thing
we'll surely keep discussing especially among (the world's) financial ministers,
but it is hard to tell the exact timing on that."
The G-20 summit will provide South Korea with the chance to show it is having "a
much more active and constructive role in the international community," the Uden
said.
"(The summit) will surely put Korea in the spotlight. Something like the summit
will give the Korean government an opportunity to show what it's doing right
now," he said, adding Korea has shown "real good leadership" on issues such as
climate change.
"I believe it (Korea) will make sure the summit is a success," said the
ambassador, adding that Korea's success in hosting would in itself be "a big plus
to the country."
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has shown one of the strongest
performances worldwide in overcoming the global economic downturn, but it must
not overlook gloomier financial situations elsewhere as it hosts the G-20 summit
in November, the top British envoy to Seoul said.
"(In the G-20 summit), you want to have an ambition to move things along, but not
too much ambition to leave others behind. I think this is part of Korea's
responsibility," British Ambassador Martin Uden said in an interview with Yonhap
News Agency.
"It is easy to forget, especially in Korea where the economy is doing a great job
and a 5 percent growth is forecasted (this year), that it's not as easy for the
rest of the world, where the market situation is much worse," Uden added. "Making
sure that the overall world economy is on the right track is the most important
issue for both the summit and Korea's chairmanship."
South Korea will be hosting the summit of the world's 20 largest developed and
emerging economies in November, as the global economy is slowly crawling out of
the financial crisis that hit Wall Street and rippled across the world in autumn
2008.
Seoul is the co-chair with Canada of the newest round of the world's premier
forum on economic cooperation. Toronto will host the G-20 in June.
South Korea's export-dependent economy was among the hardest-hit by the downturn,
but it has been on a course of quick recovery, with the government forecasting
growth of a maximum 5 percent this year.
Its hosting of the upcoming summit has had a positive influence in Seoul's
relations with London, which hosted the third meeting last year, the British
ambassador said.
"The connections that'd been made on economic policies between our two countries
have been remarkable over the past 18 months because of (the two countries'
hosting of) the G-20 summit," he said.
Claiming Seoul and London "share very similar views" on many economic issues,
Uden said South Korea should take the lead from Britain and make efforts to
reflect the views of underdeveloped economies in the G-20 forum.
"The G-20 will represent 85 percent of the world's GDP, so on economic issues, it
can have an important influence. But you must make sure that other countries
don't feel excluded and have the opportunity to put their views forward even if
they are not in the room," he said.
"When we prepared for the London summit, we made effort in getting around the
world so that ASEAN and other economic groups were properly represented in the
summit," Uden added. "I'm sure Canada and Korea will do the same thing."
During a recent meeting with the top 30 conglomerates here, South Korean
President Lee Myung-bak said his officials plan to visit developing nations that
are not participating in the summit to ensure their voices are heard.
"As we move from G-8 to G-20, we must remember other voices have to be heard,"
Uden stressed. "And things we could do in the G-8, among a very like-minded group
of countries, can't necessarily be done in the G-20."
Getting on a path toward sustainable and balanced growth and reforming financial
institutions are among the key issues to be dealt with in the Seoul summit. The
British envoy remained cautious over whether November would be an adequate time
to start discussing a so-called "exit strategy" from worldwide economic stimulus
measures.
"What's going to dominate in November will depend on what happens in Canada in
June and developments in the real world," he said. "Exit strategy is one thing
we'll surely keep discussing especially among (the world's) financial ministers,
but it is hard to tell the exact timing on that."
The G-20 summit will provide South Korea with the chance to show it is having "a
much more active and constructive role in the international community," the Uden
said.
"(The summit) will surely put Korea in the spotlight. Something like the summit
will give the Korean government an opportunity to show what it's doing right
now," he said, adding Korea has shown "real good leadership" on issues such as
climate change.
"I believe it (Korea) will make sure the summit is a success," said the
ambassador, adding that Korea's success in hosting would in itself be "a big plus
to the country."
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
