ID :
97235
Tue, 12/29/2009 - 08:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/97235
The shortlink copeid
Lee to face daunting global and domestic agendas in 2010
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- The year 2010 holds both challenges and opportunities for South Korea and President Lee Myung-bak, as they will face heaps of daunting problems at home and abroad, including the global economic crisis continuing to threaten the world's major economies.
Already tasked with overcoming domestic economic difficulties, Lee will be asked
to take leadership in reviving the global economy as the host of next year's
Group of 20 summit.
South Korea is set to host the G-20 in Seoul in November after co-hosting an
earlier one in Toronto, Canada, from June 26-27.
"As the chair and host of the G-20 summit, the president and our country will be
responsible for setting the summit agenda, as well as the scope of issues to be
discussed," said Rhee Hun-suk, an official from the Financial Services Commission
who is in charge of setting the summit agenda for the financial sector.
"We are responsible for identifying issues that affect not only our country and
Asia, but the entire world," he added.
The summit here will provide a rare chance for the country to input its voice
into matters that affect the entire world, but the meeting itself may also mark a
historic moment when the country makes its debut as a global leader.
The November summit is expected to bring together over 10,000 people, including
some 35 heads of state and international organizations, making it the largest or
the most significant event ever to be held in the country, according to Kim
Yong-bum, an official at the country's G-20 summit organizing committee.
"The country has hosted many other international events, such as the FIFA World
Cup and Olympic Games, but the G-20 summit will be the most significant meeting
in that it is a group of the most influential countries in the world and that it
has the most effective means to change the world," Kim said, also noting that
G-20 countries account for over 85 percent of global production.
In September, the summit was named the premier forum for international economic
cooperation.
President Lee recently noted the forum is equal to the powerful Security Council
of the United Nations when it comes to economic issues.
However, he is seeking to take the opportunity to also deal with various problems
facing his own country in economic, social and political sectors, presidential
spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said.
"President Lee sees it as a chance to solve our own problems because he believes
our problems are no longer separate or different from those of the world, and
vice versa," Kim said.
One of the most urgent problems the president sees as affecting both his country
and the world is global warming, according to Kim.
The president will intensify his drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions here while
urging voluntary and strenuous mitigation efforts by others, she said.
Seoul announced a goal last month to cut emissions by 30 percent from its
forecast or business-as-usual levels in 2020, the highest mitigation target set
by any country currently not required to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.
"What the president seeks to do is to create a system where the abnormal or the
wrong is no longer possible in all areas including environment, business, trade
and political sectors," the spokeswoman said.
Besides the global agenda, domestic political issues are expected to continue to
pose challenges to Lee, who is entering the critical third year of his five-year
single presidential term.
The Lee government is trying to reduce the number of government offices to be
relocated to a new administrative city under construction in central South Korea,
possibly to none, in a move that has already rendered him vulnerable to attacks
and criticism from politicians from both ruling and opposition parties.
The prime minister's office is expected to announce an alternative plan for the
new city, Sejong, on Jan. 11.
Lee has said he will take full responsibility for any disputes or confrontations
that are expected to follow.
"I have no desire for my own political gain. I have no desire but to accomplish
what will truly benefit the country and help improve the lives of our people and
create jobs for them," he said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Yonhap) -- The year 2010 holds both challenges and opportunities for South Korea and President Lee Myung-bak, as they will face heaps of daunting problems at home and abroad, including the global economic crisis continuing to threaten the world's major economies.
Already tasked with overcoming domestic economic difficulties, Lee will be asked
to take leadership in reviving the global economy as the host of next year's
Group of 20 summit.
South Korea is set to host the G-20 in Seoul in November after co-hosting an
earlier one in Toronto, Canada, from June 26-27.
"As the chair and host of the G-20 summit, the president and our country will be
responsible for setting the summit agenda, as well as the scope of issues to be
discussed," said Rhee Hun-suk, an official from the Financial Services Commission
who is in charge of setting the summit agenda for the financial sector.
"We are responsible for identifying issues that affect not only our country and
Asia, but the entire world," he added.
The summit here will provide a rare chance for the country to input its voice
into matters that affect the entire world, but the meeting itself may also mark a
historic moment when the country makes its debut as a global leader.
The November summit is expected to bring together over 10,000 people, including
some 35 heads of state and international organizations, making it the largest or
the most significant event ever to be held in the country, according to Kim
Yong-bum, an official at the country's G-20 summit organizing committee.
"The country has hosted many other international events, such as the FIFA World
Cup and Olympic Games, but the G-20 summit will be the most significant meeting
in that it is a group of the most influential countries in the world and that it
has the most effective means to change the world," Kim said, also noting that
G-20 countries account for over 85 percent of global production.
In September, the summit was named the premier forum for international economic
cooperation.
President Lee recently noted the forum is equal to the powerful Security Council
of the United Nations when it comes to economic issues.
However, he is seeking to take the opportunity to also deal with various problems
facing his own country in economic, social and political sectors, presidential
spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said.
"President Lee sees it as a chance to solve our own problems because he believes
our problems are no longer separate or different from those of the world, and
vice versa," Kim said.
One of the most urgent problems the president sees as affecting both his country
and the world is global warming, according to Kim.
The president will intensify his drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions here while
urging voluntary and strenuous mitigation efforts by others, she said.
Seoul announced a goal last month to cut emissions by 30 percent from its
forecast or business-as-usual levels in 2020, the highest mitigation target set
by any country currently not required to cut emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.
"What the president seeks to do is to create a system where the abnormal or the
wrong is no longer possible in all areas including environment, business, trade
and political sectors," the spokeswoman said.
Besides the global agenda, domestic political issues are expected to continue to
pose challenges to Lee, who is entering the critical third year of his five-year
single presidential term.
The Lee government is trying to reduce the number of government offices to be
relocated to a new administrative city under construction in central South Korea,
possibly to none, in a move that has already rendered him vulnerable to attacks
and criticism from politicians from both ruling and opposition parties.
The prime minister's office is expected to announce an alternative plan for the
new city, Sejong, on Jan. 11.
Lee has said he will take full responsibility for any disputes or confrontations
that are expected to follow.
"I have no desire for my own political gain. I have no desire but to accomplish
what will truly benefit the country and help improve the lives of our people and
create jobs for them," he said.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
