The President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-bak (pictured), is expected in Doha today on an official visit. Here are excerpts of an interview he gave to Al Sharq prior to his arrival.
What are the main topics of discussion between Korea and Qatar during your visit?
Myung-bak: I expect to have in-depth consultations on how to promote mutual cooperation in the fields of energy, construction, climate change and green growth.
At the same time, I will engage in more extensive discussions to expand bilateral collaboration into new areas, including health care and medical service as well as education and science and technology.
Qatar is channeling all its efforts into advancing the country through its National Vision 2030. The member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are also pushing actively forward with moves to develop their economies and societies. Korea will be able to work with these countries as a reliable partner in many areas.
Korea's technologies and knowhow in achieving industrial and social progress in a short span of time will be a useful reference for the countries in the Gulf. In addition, there is a great possibility for bilateral cooperation in connection with green growth in preparation for a post-oil era.
The economy is the important issue for the leaders of Korea and Qatar. Korea has emerged as a significant strategic partner for Qatar to the extent that bilateral trade exceeded US$20 billion in 2011. What do you see as the prospects for economic relations between the two countries? How will it be possible for Korea and Gulf nations to boost trade in the future?
Myung-bak: Korea and Qatar have been working closely together in the fields of construction and energy, especially for LNG and crude oil.
Our two countries will be able to continue to enhance such cooperative ties, and taking it a step further, advance cooperation in other areas as well, including new and renewable energy, education, health care and medical services, sports and green growth.
Qatar and other countries in the Gulf have been forging friendly, cooperative relations with Korea. As the two regions have forward-looking interests and an intention to work together, bilateral cooperation will continue to increase in a variety of areas.
The land development project is currently underway at a rapid pace across all fronts in Qatar. Is there any knowhow that Korea has to offer to Qatar?
Myung-bak: Qatar has made progress at an astounding pace among the GCC member countries. I am very impressed by the economic advancement and land development Qatar has achieved thus far. I am also inspired by the country's plans looking ahead.
Qatar is currently constructing infrastructure such as roads and railways in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. I understand the country is now actively implementing a new city development project. I look forward to bilateral cooperation in these fields in the years to come. There are many Korean businesses that have abundant experiences at home and abroad.
Korea began building up a network of expressways in earnest in the late 1960s. Based on the technical knowhow accumulated in the process, Korea completed many overseas construction projects. The nation has also rich experiences in building railways.
On top of this, in line with the project of building 2 million units of houses in the early 1990s, five new cites were created. Currently, 12 new cities are being built. As such, Korea also has ample knowhow in new city construction.
I hope these matters will be on the table during the upcoming summit between Korea and Qatar so that Korea's experiences will be of help to the national development of Qatar.
How much is Korea dependent on crude oil from Iran? In case the international community imposes sanctions on Iran, what sort of precautionary measures will Korea take?
Myung-bak: The oil from Iran does not constitute much in Korea's total imports. If necessary depending on the future developments in the situation, Korea will concentrate its efforts on securing oil in a stable manner through cooperation with the Government of Qatar. At the summit, I am planning to exchange ideas on how to work together.
How does the Korean Government evaluate Qatar's role in addressing problems in the Arab world and the Middle East?
Myung-bak: Qatar has so far been playing a noteworthy role in tackling disputes such as the recent conflict in Libya and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. The international community is clearly aware of this. In this connection, I highly value the leadership of Sheikh Hamad. I hope Qatar will continuously play constructive roles for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
This year Qatar is going to play host to the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Korea is also emphatically implementing green growth policies. What is your philosophy in this regard?
Myung-bak: I congratulate Qatar on the hosting of the Conference. I hope this first conference on climate change in the Middle East will be a great success under the leadership of Sheikh Hamad. Korea wants to redouble its efforts in working together for the success of the Conference.
Over the past 60 years, Korea has achieved condensed quantitative growth, becoming one of the 11 largest economic powerhouses. We now recognize that Korea needs a paradigm shift to progress toward an advanced nation standing tall in the world, overcoming global crises related to energy, the economy and the environment.
In this connection in 2008, Korea announced "Low Carbon Green Growth" as the new creative vision for next 60 years. To this end, Korea has established a legal and institutional framework and is now bolstering capabilities to adapt to climate change by investing two percent of the GDP into the growth of green technology and industry and the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project. It is also making efforts to help the concept of a green life to be more widely accepted. Through all these efforts, Korea is further strengthening the framework for sustainable growth.
At the same time, the Korean Government is endeavoring to act as a bridge between developing and developed countries in an attempt to prevent friction over green growth. It is encouraging the OECD, UNEP, G20 Summit, Rio+20 and other international organizations and forums to adopt green growth as a core task. In the same vein, the Republic is trying to turn the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) into an international organization in that its role as a think-tank and cooperative entity is crucial to the expansion of green growth worldwide.
Particularly, beginning this year, Korea will strive to firmly settle the green growth regime with a vision of emerging as one of the seven most important countries in this regard by 2020. Green growth is not easy as it entails lifestyle changes through energy saving, greenhouse gas reduction and other measures, but there is no alternative. This is something that the world will have to agonize over for the next 100 years and beyond.
"Green Growth for All" should become a global movement as it will effectively deal with climate change, contribute to the progress of developing countries and bring about a new kind of civilization for all peoples. I trust that Qatar will demonstrate special attention to the cause.
In March, South Korea is hosting the Second Nuclear Security Summit. What are the major issues on the agenda and what does Korea aim to achieve as the host nation?
Myung-bak: The Nuclear Security Summit seeks to realize a peaceful world free of the terror involving nuclear materials. At the meeting, the participating nations will delve into the ways for implementing reduction of nuclear materials and for managing them safely.
At the forthcoming Seoul summit slated for March 26-27, the participants will evaluate the progress in the implementation of the commitments made at the First Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC in 2010. It will also deal with concrete action plans in the interest of solidifying nuclear security.
The leaders will also tackle safety issues at nuclear power stations as they relate to such accidents as the one in Fukushima last year. Specifically, they will discuss the relationship between nuclear security and the safety of nuclear power generation. Also on the agenda will be strengthening protection of all radioactive materials.
Since the Washington Summit, a number of achievements have been made in the area of reducing nuclear materials and the ratification of international conventions concerning nuclear security. The International Nuclear Training and Education Center has been established, and the IAEA's nuclear security funds have been increased as well.
Since April 2010, a total of 17 nations have ratified the amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material. Included in the 17 nations are non-participants in the Washington Summit. Twelve countries have ratified the International Convention on the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism and each of them is setting up a nuclear security training center in their own country.
The Seoul Summit is expected to announce a concrete plan of implementation for individual countries to reduce nuclear materials by 2014 when the Third Summit will be held. The summit is anticipated to urge nations of the world to ratify the amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material so that it can be put into force by 2014.
© The Peninsula 2012
