Welcoming Remarks by H.E. Amb. Lee Taeho
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
on the occasion of the Launching Ceremony
of the ROK-Pacific Islands Trade and Tourism Promotion Project
Seoul, March 13, 2019

Your Excellency Andrew Yamanea, Ambassador of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea,
Your Excellency Peniana Lalabalavu, Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji,
Ms. Sonja Hunter, Chairperson of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation,
Mr. Hong Kwang-hee, President of the Korea Importers Association,
Representatives from trade and tourism sectors in the Pacific Island countries and Korea,
Distinguished members of the diplomatic corps in Korea,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening,

I am honored to host this meaningful event at the Official Residence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea. Thank you to all of you, especially distinguished guests from business circles and tourism authorities of the Pacific Island countries. You have travelled all the way to Seoul to attend this event.  I welcome you with my heart. By this time of the year you should be able to notice a sign of spring in the garden. Cold air is still lingering around, however, resisting the arrival of the spring season. 

Now, we are standing at the starting line of the “Korea-Pacific Islands Trade & Tourism Promotion Project.” This project is designed to help consolidate the foundation of the close relations between our two sides. What is the best way to promote relations between countries? You would agree with me that enhancing economic interactions and people-to-people exchanges are the most effective way to do so. In this regard, our project will indeed serve as a catalyst to promote our relations by helping expand trade and promote the movement of people.

I am confident, remembering a Korean saying -- “Well begun is half done,” -- that this project will become successful because so many distinguished guests have gathered here to show their commitment to the objectives of this project.

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It was in 1970, almost a half century ago, that Korea started to establish diplomatic ties with the Pacific Island countries. As Korea set up diplomatic relations with one Pacific Island country after another, our ties made further and further progress. It is a strong wish of the Korean government to remain a true partner to the Pacific Island countries for their socio-economic development.  Korea’s official development program for Pacific Island countries, which began in 1987 with a modest amount of resources, has borne fruits in the fields like fisheries, healthcare, and climate change. The people-to-people exchanges and the volume of trade and investment also have seen steady growth over the years.

Since 2011, the Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meetings and Senior Officials’ Meetings have contributed to broadening the horizons of our mutually-beneficial cooperation at the government level. With the first visit by the Korean President to Papua New Guinea last year on the occasion of the APEC summit, I believe the inter-governmental exchanges will be even more facilitated in the years to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Under President Moon’s governing philosophy of “People come first”, people are placed at the very center of the Korean government’s foreign policy. Korea’s foreign policy is pursued through the effort to promote mutual understanding between Koreans and the people of our partner countries.  Korea’s foreign policy is aimed at achieving mutual benefits for Koreans and the people of our partner countries. I am happy to note that today’s project with the aim of promoting trade and tourism between our two regions is pretty much in line with Korea’s foreign policy. 

As for trade, our respective companies, governments and trade agencies will closely interact with each other through business forums, exhibitions and so on. A number of occasions will be arranged to promote the awareness on the part of Korean companies and consumers of the Pacific Island countries’ products, investment environments and market conditions.  The Pacific Island countries will have enhanced chances for sustainable economic growth as more and more Korean companies have business opportunities in the region. President Hong of the Korea Importers Association is here with us. Thank you for joining us this evening. The Korea Importers Association, with its 46 years of experience in the trade sector, will play a major role in helping Korean customers get more familiar with the Pacific Island countries by providing more opportunities for the high-quality products of the Pacific Island countries to be imported to the Korean market.

When it comes to tourism, our travel agencies and airlines together with the South Pacific Tourism Organization will carry out various programs under the sponsorship of this project to promote tourism in the Pacific Island countries. Seminars and fairs will be organized and a variety of tourism guide-books and documentary programs will be provided to the Korean public. The promotion activities will also be conducted online. Social media with travel writers, bloggers and journalists will be engaged in this effort. Now, around 20 thousand Koreans visit Pacific Island countries every year. Korean Air’s direct flight between Incheon and Nadi, which started in 1995, annually carries about 44,500 travellers, acting as a bridge between Korea and all the Pacific Island countries. Let me express my appreciation for this big contribution. Given the rich tourism resources and potential that the Pacific Island countries have, we could be a little more ambitious to dramatically increase the number of Korean travellers to the region. Now 10 Pacific Island countries maintain visa-free regimes for Koreans. This is indeed a good footing. The other 4 Pacific Island countries will join soon, I hope.

On Monday this week, 3 Korean ambassadors stationed in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Zealand jointly contributed an article to a local newspaper in Korea, expressing their full commitment to the implementation of today’s project. They expressed their collective wish that Korea and the Pacific Island countries will march together hand in hand on the road leading to a people-centered, mutually beneficial cooperation mechanism oriented toward peace and prosperity. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In concluding my remarks, I would like to quote one more Korean saying -- “A thousand mile journey begins with a first small step.” I hope that this project will be a significant first step in Korea’s contribution toward more vibrant and sustainable social and economic development of the Pacific Island countries.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to many people without whose tireless efforts today’s event could not have been possible – in particular the Embassy of Fiji, the Korea Importers Association, and the South Pacific Tourism Organization.

Once again, thank you all for your presence.  I wish all the guests from the Pacific Islands countries a comfortable stay in Korea. Now, I would like to propose to raise our glasses for the success of this project and the lasting friendship between Korea and the Pacific Island countries.
“Cheers!”

Thank you.

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