1. On June 10, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se engaged in a wide range of proactive activities aimed at strengthening the role and status of the ROK, which has taken the initiative in global green growth diplomacy. The activities include meetings with Chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Rasmussen (former Danish Prime Minister) and Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Bach, the hosting of a welcome luncheon for participants of the third Global Green Growth Summit (GGGS), and the signing of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Headquarters Agreement.
☞ Full Text of the Foreign Minister's GGGS Remarks

2. In their meeting, Foreign Minister Yun and GGGI Chairman Rasmussen agreed to actively cooperate to develop the GGGI, officially launched as an international organization last October, into an internationally competitive organization in green growth.

o Chairman Rasmussen expressed his appreciation to the ROK government, stating that its active leadership made the establishment of the GGGI possible. The Chairman said that though the GGGI, launched only about a year ago, has much work to do, the institute has already made a lot of achievements, and stressed that the GGGI Council member countries including the ROK along with other member countries of the GGGI need to make efforts for continued development of the organization.

o Minister Yun emphasized that in line with its policy priority of creative economy, the Park Geun-hye government has pursued green growth and will continue to actively support Chairman Rasmussen and the GGGI to promote green growth in developing countries.

o In addition, Minister Yun spoke highly of Chairman Rasmussen’s role during his term as Danish Prime Minister in elevating the ROK-Denmark relations to a higher level, including through the forging of the bilateral green growth alliance. Minister Yun asked the Chairman to make active efforts to further solidify close cooperation between the two countries.
- Chairman Rasmussen noted with satisfaction that the two countries have established a firm relationship mainly in the field of green growth and made significant contributions to the international community. He also promised to make efforts for the development of the bilateral relations.

3. In addition, Minister Yun met with Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Christian Friis Bach, who visited the ROK for the third GGGS. They held an in-depth discussion on ways to cooperate on Arctic-related projects, development cooperation and common efforts for green growth.

o Minister Yun stressed the importance of the ROK-Denmark cooperation in carrying out Arctic-related projects, including the protection of the Arctic environment and the Arctic sea route.
- Minister Bach shared the view that the ROK-Denmark cooperation in the Arctic area is important. Minister Bach also stated that he is paying attention to the ROK’s potential for contribution to environmental conservation and sustainable development of Greenland, an autonomous Danish dependent territory.

o Minister Yun said that the MOU on green growth trilateral cooperation concluded between the ROK, Denmark and Vietnam last November is a desirable model of middle-power diplomacy and that such cooperation has benefited both recipients and developing countries.
- In response, Minister Bach noted that the experiences of the ROK, a recipient-turned-donor country, and Denmark’s accumulated experiences as a donor will be able to create a synergy effect together. He offered to pursue trilateral cooperation with more countries.

o The two Ministers noted that the ROK-Denmark relations have been elevated to a higher level mainly in the field of green growth, and agreed to further strengthen such cooperative relations during the Park Geun-hye government.

4. In addition, Minister Yun hosted a welcome luncheon for participants of the third GGGS being held in Songdo on June 10-11, and encouraged people from all walks of life who have contributed largely to promoting green growth to engage in more activities.

o In his welcome remarks, Minister Yun stressed the importance of “creating a new growth engine by converging environment and industry” and urged people to pursue “green growth for all.”

o The welcome luncheon was attended by eight ministerial-level government officials, including former President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo, Mexican Minister for Environment and Natural Resources Juan Abud and Ethiopian State Minister Getahun, eight people from international organizations, including GGGI Chairman Rasmussen, Co-Chairman of the GCF Ewen McDonald, and Bloomberg New Energy Finance CEO Liebreich.

o The GGGS is a meeting to discuss specific cooperation measures to support countries which pursue green growth strategies. The first GGGS was held in 2011 and this year’s summit was the third.
- This year’s summit was held under the theme of realizing green growth and creative economy through the convergence of financial resources, technological innovation and policies.

5. Foreign Minister Yun and Co-Chairman of the GCF Ewen McDonald signed the GCF Headquarters Agreement.

o After the Agreement signed comes into effect upon its approval for the ratification by the ROK National Assembly, the independent secretariat of the GCF will be established, opening a full-fledged era of Songdo International City.