ID :
49581
Mon, 03/09/2009 - 10:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/49581
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(News Focus) Seoul's new Asia initiative more challenging than promising By Byun Duk-kun
JAKARTA, March 8 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday announced a bold plan to become a leader of all Asia, a task that will likely prove much more difficult than it sounds as Seoul moves ahead with its ambitious plan to become a regional powerhouse.
The move comes under what is called the "new Asia initiative," under which the
country will seek to maximize its diplomatic and economic influence on all the
other nations in the region.
Seoul will work as a mediator between existing powers -- namely, China and Japan
-- and the rest of countries in the region to win the confidence of both sides
and become the representative of Asia with their approval and recognition.
"While working as a chair of the G-20 summit and improving its cooperative
relations with the big nations in Asia -- China and Japan -- the country can
foster an environment in which it can speak for the rest of Asia," the
presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said.
However, the task will be difficult as South Korea must first win the endorsement
of the region's two major powers, which have long competed against each other to
become the leader of the region.
Also, convincing the less powerful countries to follow Korea's new self-claimed
leadership will be a challenge that few countries have faced or accomplished in
history.
Asia, with two of the world's most populous nations, China and India, is home to
over half of the world's population, as well as many of the world's
fastest-growing economies.
"Today, the center of power is shifting from the West to the East, from Europe to
Asia, and its geographical location and its experience with Western democracy
make Asia a place where our diplomatic efforts can be most effective," Cheong Wa
Dae said in a press release.
Seoul has set up ambitious means to reach its ambitious goals.
It will seek to sign free trade agreements, a move that will give Seoul newfound
authority as a coordinator of trade agreements.
"The country will work to sign FTAs with every country in the region at the
earliest possible date so Korea can work as a hub in an FTA network in the
region," Cheong Wa Dae said.
South Korea just launched formal FTA talks with New Zealand and Australia last
week during President Lee Myung-bak's visits to the countries, while it is also
expected to start negotiations with Turkey before the end of the year.
Still, reaching the goal will likely take decades for the country that currently
has only two FTAs in effect -- one with Chile and the other with Singapore. Seoul
and Washington signed an FTA in 2007, but the deal still needs to be ratified by
both countries' legislatures.
Under its action plan, Seoul will seek to take political leadership of the region
by assuming a critical role in getting Asia, and eventually the world, out of the
global financial crisis, a task many officials say is proving to be "extremely
challenging" even for the world's most powerful nation and the largest economy,
the United States.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
The move comes under what is called the "new Asia initiative," under which the
country will seek to maximize its diplomatic and economic influence on all the
other nations in the region.
Seoul will work as a mediator between existing powers -- namely, China and Japan
-- and the rest of countries in the region to win the confidence of both sides
and become the representative of Asia with their approval and recognition.
"While working as a chair of the G-20 summit and improving its cooperative
relations with the big nations in Asia -- China and Japan -- the country can
foster an environment in which it can speak for the rest of Asia," the
presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, said.
However, the task will be difficult as South Korea must first win the endorsement
of the region's two major powers, which have long competed against each other to
become the leader of the region.
Also, convincing the less powerful countries to follow Korea's new self-claimed
leadership will be a challenge that few countries have faced or accomplished in
history.
Asia, with two of the world's most populous nations, China and India, is home to
over half of the world's population, as well as many of the world's
fastest-growing economies.
"Today, the center of power is shifting from the West to the East, from Europe to
Asia, and its geographical location and its experience with Western democracy
make Asia a place where our diplomatic efforts can be most effective," Cheong Wa
Dae said in a press release.
Seoul has set up ambitious means to reach its ambitious goals.
It will seek to sign free trade agreements, a move that will give Seoul newfound
authority as a coordinator of trade agreements.
"The country will work to sign FTAs with every country in the region at the
earliest possible date so Korea can work as a hub in an FTA network in the
region," Cheong Wa Dae said.
South Korea just launched formal FTA talks with New Zealand and Australia last
week during President Lee Myung-bak's visits to the countries, while it is also
expected to start negotiations with Turkey before the end of the year.
Still, reaching the goal will likely take decades for the country that currently
has only two FTAs in effect -- one with Chile and the other with Singapore. Seoul
and Washington signed an FTA in 2007, but the deal still needs to be ratified by
both countries' legislatures.
Under its action plan, Seoul will seek to take political leadership of the region
by assuming a critical role in getting Asia, and eventually the world, out of the
global financial crisis, a task many officials say is proving to be "extremely
challenging" even for the world's most powerful nation and the largest economy,
the United States.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
