Jeju Forum calls for Asian trust building
JEJUDO ISLAND ― Leading politicians and scholars on Thursday urged Asian nations to strive harder to foster multilateral cooperation to defuse geopolitical tensions, create “forward-looking” relations among them and keep the region’s economic dynamism.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark, former Indonesian leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and other high-profile figures made their opening remarks at the 10th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.
The forum began its three-day schedule Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues including North Korea’s nuclear problem, Korea’s reunification, maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and education and cultural exchanges.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder speaks during a session on Germany’s post-unification structural reforms at the 10th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Jejudo Island onThursday. (Yonhap)
The ex-Canadian leader stressed the need to capitalize on “middle-power” diplomacy to open fresh dialogues among the competing powers, help address their differences and, in turn, promote cooperation in the region beset by nationalism, security rivalries and historical disputes.
“Middle powers matter more today than we once did, because the tensions between dominant powers can lead them to narrow their focus, and often, therefore, to limit their capacity to lead or stimulate change,” Clark said.
“Middle powers, by contrast, often have much more flexibility in opening new dialogues, reaching across existing boundaries, and encouraging the skeptical or the constrained to explore new options,” he added.
Middle-power states refer to countries like South Korea, Canada and Australia, which have sufficient diplomatic credibility, status and economic power with which they can take collective action to make differences on global issues.
The ex-Indonesian leader called for “self-restraint and de-escalation” of tensions, underscoring the need to prevent regional conflicts from worsening, should the countries not be able to work out permanent resolutions to their conflicts.
Yudhoyono also said enhanced economic cooperation would contribute to easing the region’s geopolitical and military tensions.
“Geoeconomics tend to bring countries together through interdependence and connectedness. Geoeconomics bring more trade, investment, infrastructure, tourism and exchanges and others,” he said. “We need to make sure that the economic cooperation can help soften the rough geopolitical edges.”
Touching on Europe’s peace-building efforts, former German leader Schroeder said that enhanced regional cooperation and integration will help establish the basic foundation for peace and regional development.
In his lecture held prior to the opening ceremony, Schroeder spoke of the need for a “courageous, far-sighted” political leadership should South Korea want to envision a stable, successful post-unification era.
Sharing his experience in pushing for Agenda 2010 ― a series of bold structural reforms in Germany in the 2000s, which led to an electoral defeat ― Schroder said that a politician should be able to “take risks” to carry out challenging, unpopular policy initiatives should they help eventually promote long-term national interests.
By Song Sang-ho, Korea Herald correspondent (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
Former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark, former Indonesian leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and other high-profile figures made their opening remarks at the 10th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.
The forum began its three-day schedule Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues including North Korea’s nuclear problem, Korea’s reunification, maritime disputes in the South China Sea, and education and cultural exchanges.
The ex-Canadian leader stressed the need to capitalize on “middle-power” diplomacy to open fresh dialogues among the competing powers, help address their differences and, in turn, promote cooperation in the region beset by nationalism, security rivalries and historical disputes.
“Middle powers matter more today than we once did, because the tensions between dominant powers can lead them to narrow their focus, and often, therefore, to limit their capacity to lead or stimulate change,” Clark said.
“Middle powers, by contrast, often have much more flexibility in opening new dialogues, reaching across existing boundaries, and encouraging the skeptical or the constrained to explore new options,” he added.
Middle-power states refer to countries like South Korea, Canada and Australia, which have sufficient diplomatic credibility, status and economic power with which they can take collective action to make differences on global issues.
The ex-Indonesian leader called for “self-restraint and de-escalation” of tensions, underscoring the need to prevent regional conflicts from worsening, should the countries not be able to work out permanent resolutions to their conflicts.
Yudhoyono also said enhanced economic cooperation would contribute to easing the region’s geopolitical and military tensions.
“Geoeconomics tend to bring countries together through interdependence and connectedness. Geoeconomics bring more trade, investment, infrastructure, tourism and exchanges and others,” he said. “We need to make sure that the economic cooperation can help soften the rough geopolitical edges.”
Touching on Europe’s peace-building efforts, former German leader Schroeder said that enhanced regional cooperation and integration will help establish the basic foundation for peace and regional development.
In his lecture held prior to the opening ceremony, Schroeder spoke of the need for a “courageous, far-sighted” political leadership should South Korea want to envision a stable, successful post-unification era.
Sharing his experience in pushing for Agenda 2010 ― a series of bold structural reforms in Germany in the 2000s, which led to an electoral defeat ― Schroder said that a politician should be able to “take risks” to carry out challenging, unpopular policy initiatives should they help eventually promote long-term national interests.
By Song Sang-ho, Korea Herald correspondent (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)
(责任编辑:关于我们)
相关内容
- DOJ accuses TikTok of collecting and sharing users' personal views, as the app fights a ban
- Messi, Beckham booed after star sits out Hong Kong friendly
- Supreme Court tax case demands Clarence Thomas’ recusal.
- 党建引领 助推人居环境整治
- The Astounding World of Automata
- How to Backup Your Gmail Account
- north korea, kim jong un, russia, humanitarian assistance, food shortages, vladimir putin
- N. Korea warns US
- Donald Trump prison: No, he does not weigh 215 pounds like he told the Fulton County Jail.
- US to oppose North Korean worker dispatch to occupied Ukrainian territory: State Dept.
- Menthol cigarette ban delayed due to immense feedback, Biden administration says
- Mark Meadows news: The defense of Trump’s “perfect phone call” is really something.
- History Tour: The Golden Age of Piracy
推荐文章
-
Pressure boost squeezes out more hydrogen from artificial leaves
Hydrogen-producing artificial leaves might soon be even better at their jobs thanks to a new study t ...[详细] -
国际森林日添新绿!广东森林蓄积量位居全国前列_南方+_南方plus2024年3月21日是第12个国际森林日,今年的主题为“森林与创新”。记者从省林业局了解到,经过持续植树造林、国土绿化和强化森林资源保 ...[详细]
-
Pressured to be 'best moms,' women say it's not just about money
A mother and her child take a walk near Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu on Feb. 15. (Yonhap)With Sou ...[详细] -
10 Literary Cafés, Pubs, and Restaurants to Feed Your Muse
While history’s most famous authors wrote immortal words, they themselves were mortal, and oft ...[详细] -
First officially approved Gen IV nuclear reactor in the US breaks ground
Kairos Power has broken ground at Oak Ridge on the first officially approved Generation IV reactor e ...[详细] -
What to know and what's next for Travis King, the American soldier who ran into North Korea
A portrait of American soldier Travis King is displayed as his grandfather, Carl Gates, talks about ...[详细] -
国际森林日添新绿!广东森林蓄积量位居全国前列_南方+_南方plus2024年3月21日是第12个国际森林日,今年的主题为“森林与创新”。记者从省林业局了解到,经过持续植树造林、国土绿化和强化森林资源保 ...[详细]
-
The Definitive Guide to the World’s Hidden Blunders
Everybody makes mistakes. Some go relatively unnoticed—fleeting blips soon forgiven and forgotten. B ...[详细] -
Klarna CEO reveals plan to reduce workforce by 50% and replace it with AI
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski is so bullish on AI that the Swedish buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) pla ...[详细] -
南农晨读|荔花盛放繁如星_南方+_南方plus【今日关注】兴农评丨群众参加医保热情趋冷,因“性价比”渐低近日,全国多地医保部门纷纷发出倒计时提醒,2024年度城乡居民医疗保险以下简称“居民医保”)的参 ...[详细]
热点阅读