Opening Remarks
by H.E. Cho Tae-yul
Vice Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea
at the 4th High-Level Forum on Korea-Caribbean Partnership

October 22, 2014

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to extend my warm welcome to all of you to the 4th High-Level Forum on Korea-Caribbean Partnership. I would also like to express my special thanks to the distinguished representatives of the Caribbean countries who have traveled all the way to Korea to participate in this forum.

Since its foundation in 2011, the High-Level Forum on Korea-Caribbean Partnership has served as a venue to discuss ways to promote cooperation in a range of areas, including green growth, e-government, maritime environmental protection, renewable energy, and tourism. And now the forum has developed into a successful inter-regional consultative body with Korea as an increasingly important Asian partner for the countries in the Caribbean.

Today's forum that is taking place with a relatively broad theme of "Enhancing Korea-Caribbean Partnership for Co-Prosperity" is a 1.5 track meeting, where not only government representatives but also experts from the private sector participate. This attests to the qualitative growth the forum has achieved over the years.

I hope that today's meeting will provide an opportunity to further deepen our discussions on how to forge a stronger and future-oriented partnership, building on the progress that has been made during the past three years.

Distinguished Guests,

The Caribbean is a region of unique diversity, with the locals of the West Indies, Europeans, Africans, and the latter-day arrivals from Asia living side-by-side in harmony. On account of its painful history, the region was long recognized as a region of confusion, rather than harmony; a region of conflict, rather than solidarity. But today the Caribbean has evolved into a region with a strong sense of community more than any other region in the world.

It was Toussaint Louverture, the leader of the Haitian Revolution, two hundred some years ago who passionately appealed for the harmony and solidarity of the Caribbean people. He mixed wine with water and then asked, "Which is water, and which is wine? All of us need to unite and live together."

His call instilled intellectual inspirations to people like Walter Rodney, one of the great historians in the 20th century, and Simon Bolivar, Latin America's hero in the struggle for independence. At long last, the fetters of its painful history were broken and the aspiration of the Caribbean people for harmony and solidarity paved the way for the founding of CARICOM in 1973.

"What seemed to be surrender was redemption. What seemed to be the loss of tradition was its renewal. What seemed to be death of faith was its rebirth." Just like these words of Derek Walcott, a great poet and 1993 Nobel laureate, the Caribbean region was born again overcoming its tortuous history.

Distinguished Guests,

The Caribbean is a nexus that connects South America with North America, the Western Hemisphere with Africa, and the Western hemisphere with Europe. And its geostrategic importance has been continuing to increase as it comes of age.

Paradoxically, the painful history of the Caribbean has transformed it into one of the most cosmopolitan regions in the world today. Its heterogeneous race, language, religion and custom have developed beyond the so-called "creative chaos” or "stable disequilibrium" into cultural pluralism. Indeed, it is not by chance that this region has been producing world class music and literature as well as renowned intellectuals.

Since the 20th century, the Caribbean has been rejoicing in a relatively long peace, while the number of countries reaping the fruits of economic growth has been on the rise. Tourism is a major industry that has enabled the region to reap such economic benefits.

However, natural disasters, global financial crisis and climate change that hit the region in recent years are now posing another challenge, that is, to promote resilience. And last year, the Caribbean leaders adopted the CARICOM Five-Year Strategic Plan to overcome the external shocks and pursue sustainable economic growth. This strategy that aims to enhance the economic, environmental, and technological resilience of CARICOM by increasing knowledge- and innovation-based productivity is prudent and timely.

Korea wholeheartedly supports the CARICOM’s collective efforts for sustainable development. As the Caribbean has been expanding its previously Europe-centered cooperation to South and North America as well as Africa, Korea has also been rapidly broadening its diplomatic horizon since the end of the Cold War. Establishing diplomatic relations with the old communist bloc following the fall of the Berlin Wall, and expanding our bilateral and multilateral cooperation with Latin America after the first visit to the region by a Korean president in 1991 are cases in point. Of course, the High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership is another outcome of such efforts.

Today, Korea is faithfully following through with its commitment to contribute to building a 'happy global village'. Rising above the ruins of war and agony of poverty, Korea has achieved both industrialization and democratization in a span of only a generation. And now we are committed to share our unique development experiences with the developing world. Cooperation with the Caribbean region is already underway in the areas of electrical power industry and e-government, just to name a few. And now we are working on technical cooperation projects that support the Five-Year Strategic Plan of CARICOM.

Distinguished Guests,

In his famous 'Letter from Jamaica', Simon Bolivar wrote, "When success is not assured, and when results are distantly seen, all men hesitate; opinion is divided, and passions rage." This letter stoked the fire of independence throughout the region calling on the people of Latin America to unite.

At the summit in Chaguramas in July of last year to commemorate the 40th anniversary of CARICOM, we were able to witness once again Bolivar's commitment. We applaud the unwavering commitment of the Caribbean leaders to consolidate the Caribbean identity and integration in the face of new challenges of the 21st century, and to move forward together towards the future of new growth.

Today, let us remember the spirit that prevailed in Chaguramas 41 years ago. And let us collect our wisdom to find out how best Korea can cooperate to promote the Caribbean growth and prosperity, and how Korea and the Caribbean can work together to build a stronger partnership transforming the physical distance that divides us into an intricate web of interactions that unites us. Thank you. /END/