mofa eNewsMaker

아세안, 따뜻한 번영의 동반자

유명환 외교통상부 장관

한국과 아세안의 대화관계 수립 20주년을 기념하는 '한ㆍ아세안 특별정상회의'가 오늘 개막된다. 정부는 이번 정상회의가 한ㆍ아세안 발전에 새로운 전기를 마련하는 기념비적 행사가 될 수 있도록 만전을 기해왔다.

한국과 아세안은 1989년 대화관계 수립 이후 20년간 제반 분야에서 긴밀한 협력관계를 꾸준히 발전시켜 왔다. 특히 양측은 2004년 포괄적 협력 동반자 관계 수립으로 한 차원 관계를 격상시켰으며 2006년과 2007년에는 한ㆍ아세안 자유무역협정(FTA) 상품협정과 서비스협정을 타결함으로써 경제협력 관계를 더욱 공고히 했다.

의미 깊은 제주 정상회의

이러한 관계 증진으로 2008년 한ㆍ아세안 교역 규모는 902억 달러에 이르렀으며 이런 추세라면 가까운 장래에 아세안은 한국의 제2대 교역대상지역이 될 것으로 보인다. 한국의 아세안에 대한 투자 규모도 꾸준히 확대돼 작년에 58억 달러까지 증가함으로써 아세안은 한국의 제2위 해외 투자대상 지역으로 성장했다. 이외에도 인적 교류, 문화 교류 등 다양한 분야에서 한ㆍ아세안 관계가 긴밀해지고 있다.

그러나 여기에 만족해서는 안 될 것이다. 한국과 아세안 동반자 관계는 잠재력이 무한하기 때문이다. 국제 금융위기, 에너지 안보 및 기후변화 등 글로벌 과제들이 산적한 가운데 이에 대처하기 위한 한국과 아세안과의 협력 필요성이 그 어느 때보다 절실하기 때문이다. 이런 측면에서 이번 정상회의 개최는 매우 시의적절하다고 할 수 있겠다.

이명박 대통령은 지난 3월 인도네시아 방문 중에 '신아시아 외교' 구상을 발표했다. 국제사회에서 날로 커지는 아시아의 중요성에 대한 인식을 바탕으로 아시아 국가들과의 실질 협력 관계를 강화해 나가자는 것이다. '신아시아 외교'의 중심에 바로 아세안이 있다.

이 대통령은 과거 기업인으로서 아세안 국가들과 특별한 인연을 맺어왔으며 이 대통령의 아세안에 대한 폭 넓고 깊은 이해는 한국의 아세안 중시 외교정책의 밑바탕이 되고 있다. 정부는 이번 정상회의를 통해 '신아시아 외교'를 구체적으로 이행해 나갈 것이다.

첫째, 이번 정상회의에서 아세안 국가들과 우리의 개발 경험을 공유하고 공적개발지원(ODA) 규모를 대폭 확대해 나간다는 구체적인 구상을 발표할 예정이다. 한국은 가까운 이웃인 동남아에서 우리의 국력에 상응하는 역할을 수행함으로써 향후 국제사회에서 더 많은 역할과 기여를 해 가는 기초를 다질 것이다.

둘째, 한국과 아세안은 한ㆍ아세안 FTA 투자협정을 체결한다. 이는 2006년 상품분야 FTA, 2007년 서비스분야 FTA에 이어 한ㆍ아세안 FTA 협정체제를 완결하는 것으로, 성숙한 경제 파트너로 발전할 수 있는 제도적 틀을 마련한다는 데 큰 의미가 있다.

범세계적 문제 공동 대응

셋째, 한국과 아세안은 기후변화, 금융위기 등 범세계적 문제에 대한 공동 대응방안을 논의할 예정이다. 특히 우리 정부가 중점 추진 중인 '저탄소 녹색성장' 비전을 아세안 국가들과 공유하게 되는데, 우리의 기후변화 대처 능력 배양에 기여하고 우리 경제의 신성장 동력 창출에도 일조할 것으로 기대한다.

정상회의의 주제인 '따뜻한 이웃, 번영의 동반자(Partnership for Real, Friendship for Good)'라는 문구처럼 이번 회의를 통해 한국과 아세안이 실질협력관계 발전의 청사진을 마련하고 함께 번영하는 친구로 성장할 수 있기를 기대한다.

출 처: 한국일보 09/6/1

ASEAN: Partnership for Real, Friendship for Good

By Yu Myung-hwan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The ASEAN-Republic of Korea Commemorative Summit is to begin today, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Korea-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership.

The Korean government has exerted its utmost efforts in preparations for the summit, to ensure it is a milestone in ushering in a new era of even stronger cooperation between Korea and ASEAN member countries.

Over the last two decades, Korea and ASEAN have continued to develop bonds of cooperation in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas.

In particular, with the conclusion of the ``Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive Cooperation Partnership'' in 2004, Korea and ASEAN have taken our relations to the next level.

Our economic partnership has been further bolstered through the Korea-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, with the signing of the Agreement on Trade in Goods and the Agreement on Trade in Services in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

Through such progress, our two-way trade volume reached $90.2 billion last year.

If this trend continues, ASEAN is expected to become the second largest trading partner of Korea in the near future.

In the field of investments, ASEAN has become Korea's second largest investment destination with our volume of investments reaching $5.8 billion in 2008.

Furthermore, Korea-ASEAN ties are flourishing in a whole range of areas, including cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Yet we should not be fully content with what we have achieved thus far, since the future possibilities in our partnership are virtually limitless.

And in the face of today's global challenges, including the financial crisis, energy security and climate change, the need for cooperation is greater than ever before.

In this regard, the Commemorative Summit is indeed timely.

President Lee Myung-bak announced Korea's ``New Asia Initiative'' during his visit to Indonesia last March.

In recognition of the growing importance of Asia, this initiative aims to substantially enhance our ties of cooperation with all the countries of Asia, and with ASEAN in particular.

During his time as a businessman, President Lee forged special bonds with ASEAN countries.

President Lee's extensive and deep knowledge of ASEAN has served as a strong foundation for us in pursuing a more active diplomacy with the bloc.

Making full use of the opportunity presented by the Commemorative Summit, the Korean government will seek to carry out our ``New Asia Initiative'' in the following ways.

First, the Korean government will announce detailed measures to increase our official development assistance to countries in Asia, and share with them our experiences on development. This is with a view to playing our due role in a manner commensurate with our economic capacity. By starting with our neighbors in Southeast Asia, Korea will lay a solid foundation to secure the broader respect of the international community in the years ahead.

Second, Korea and ASEAN will sign the Agreement on Trade in Investments tomorrow, which will bring about the completion of the entire Korea-ASEAN FTA. It holds great significance for Korea-ASEAN relations, as it will establish an institutional framework for Korea and ASEAN to ensure a full-fledged economic partnership.

Third, Korea and ASEAN will discuss ways to address global challenges including climate change and the financial crisis. In particular, Korea will share with ASEAN countries our enthusiasm for the vision of ``Low Carbon, Green Growth,'' a high priority policy for the Korean government. I firmly believe that this will contribute to strengthening our ability to cope with climate change as well as creating new engines for further economic growth.

Currently in Jeju, there is a great sense of expectation and anticipation for the holding of the Commemorative Summit.

The summit emblem, with its image of Korea and ASEAN members holding hands, have been placed all around the island.

The ASEAN Street set up on Jeju with the national flags and symbols of ASEAN member countries is also adding to the mood of festivities.

As the theme of the summit is ``Partnership for Real, Friendship for Good,'' it is my sincere hope that through the summit, Korea and ASEAN will draw up a blueprint for the fostering of still greater bonds of cooperation.

In all, I have every confidence that the summit will further strengthen the deep friendship between Korea and ASEAN, and will be of tremendous benefit to both sides in a variety of ways.

출 처: 코리아타임스 09/6/1

Lee's Nes Asian Initiative Takes Shape

유명환 외교통상부 장관

The ASEAN-Korea Summit, held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Korea-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership, comes to a close today. At the commemorative summit and at the bilateral summits, President Lee Myung-bak has been engaging in in-depth exchange of views with the leaders of ASEAN, with an emphasis on initiatives to promote further cooperation between Korea and ASEAN.

The summit has been an opportune occasion to flesh out the “New Asia Initiative” President Lee announced during his visit to Indonesia last March, and to bring to light the theme of the commemorative summit, “Partnership for Real, Friendship for Good.”

Henceforth, the Korean government will focus on three major areas of cooperation with ASEAN. First, we plan to enhance cooperation in the field of development, thereby laying the foundations for our common prosperity. To this end, we plan to triple Korea’s official development assistance by the year 2015. Furthermore, more programs will be implemented to share Korea’s development experience of overcoming poverty and underdevelopment in a relatively short period of time. In order to narrow the developmental gap among ASEAN members and to support their efforts to establish the envisioned “ASEAN Community” by 2015, the Korean government will boost our contributions to the “Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI).”

Second, the Korean government intends to strengthen our cooperation with ASEAN members with regard to our policy vision of “Low Carbon, Green Growth.” The Korean government has also proposed the “East Asia Climate Partnership Fund” to assist in the capacity building of developing countries. We will provide a total US$100 million from 2009 to 2012 to assist ASEAN countries in their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.

Third, with a view to enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of Korea and ASEAN, and to nurturing still closer ties between them, Korea will continue to promote cultural and people-topeople exchanges. This will serve as a solid foundation to sustain the thriving relations in the political and economic realm as well. The Korean government will double the number of students from ASEAN countries studying in Korea on scholarships by the year 2012, under the “Global Korea Scholarship” program.

The Korean government will spare no efforts in rendering support for the hard-working immigrant workers in Korean industries, as well as for the spouses from ASEAN countries in the so-called “bi-cultural families.” Indeed, they can serve as a “bridge” to further enhance the cooperative relations between Korea and ASEAN.

Since his days as a businessman in the construction industry President Lee Myung-bak has formed special bonds with ASEAN countries. His broad understanding of and experience with ASEAN is playing a crucial role in Korea’s diplomatic agenda of placing greater importance on its relations with ASEAN.

The commemorative summit and the series of bilateral talks held on its sidelines will provide an invaluable opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the interests of ASEAN, and consolidate the friendly ties among our leaders.

Building on this, Korea will bolster continuous summit diplomacy vis -a-vis the ASEAN members, in addition to carrying out diplomatic activities tailor-made to each of the members, seeking to translate President Lee Myung-bak’s vision of our “New Asia Initiative” into concrete outcomes.

출 처: 동아일보 한-아세안 정상회의 영문판 특별 에디션 09/6/2