President Lee says country will soon depend on development of cities

By Byun Duk-kun
INCHEON, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak predicted that the rise of
global cities would designate a new area of future competition and pushed for
development of South Korea's urban areas into international communities.

"If the 20th century was an 'era of states,' the 21st century is an 'era of
cities' that will engage in fierce competition," Lee said in a speech at the
opening of the Global Fair and Festival 2009 here in the western port city of
Incheon.
The international fair will run until Oct. 25, with exhibitions, conferences and
events held under the theme of new and innovative technologies and visions for
urban development.
The president noted that over half of the world's population already lives in
urban areas and that up to 90 percent of them will live in and around global
cities in the near future.
"A city friendly to life and a city attractive to investors will bring new hopes
and dreams in the future. We are now in an era when the competitiveness of cities
is the competitiveness of the country," he said at the opening ceremony, attended
by some 2,000 people.
The fair is expected to draw some 260,000 attendants from 480 cities and 1,300
businesses, organizers said.
President Lee also sought to promote his government's new vision for low-carbon,
green growth, saying it is a path that must be taken by mankind.
"This is because green growth stems from innovations in technology that will
transform a crisis into an opportunity and future values that will ensure the
happiness of mankind," the president said in his speech.
"We are striving for a lifestyle and growth that are sustainable and
complementary. We will be able to enjoy a sustainable lifestyle and growth when
we restrain the greed that has caused the global economic crisis and develop our
economy along with moral values and happiness."
bdk@yna.co.kr
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