Video Message to the Korea Dinner
His Excellency Kim Dae-jung
President
Republic of Korea
Chairman Sohmen, Governor Cayetano and economic leaders of the Asia Pacific region.
I wholeheartedly congratulate you on the opening of the 33rd International General Meeting.
The past two years have been a difficult period, indeed, for many Asia-Pacific nations, including Korea. I am deeply grateful to you for giving Korea warm words of encouragement and support for the recovery of her economy.
The Korean Government and people have carried out concerted reform in four major areas - the financial, industrial, labor and public sectors - under the guiding principle of the parallel development of democracy and a market economy. By doing so, we have overcome the foreign currency crisis and entered into a new stage of economic development. But we have just begun. From now, Korea must go on winning in the worldwide competition by adapting itself to the age of knowledge and information. However, competition should not be everything for us; we must also go on developing a 21st century-type economy characterized by cooperation with others.
An economy based on globalization and enhanced information capabilities provide us a lot of opportunities and benefits. However, it could also create new problems, one of which is the issue of disadvantaged people. Adding the idea of productive welfare in the parallel development of democracy and a market economy. Korea is trying to build a new economy which will help all citizens prosper by increasing the productivity of the disadvantaged and raising their standard of living.
As we entered into the age of information in the 21st century, the time has come for us to pay attention to the gap in economic development and knowledge among nations. We must include developing nations in the information networks and share the benefits with them. Unless we do that, cultural and religious fundamentalism would purge and world peace would be threatened. The earth would face quick destruction because of indiscriminate development carried out in an attempt to survive. I hope you will undertake insightful study into these issues.
In addition, the APEC Seoul Forum will open at the end of this month. I hope you will take an interest and participate in it.
On the occasion of this deeply meaningful Korean Dinner, I congratulate you once again on the successful general meeting.