Speech at the Luncheon for the OANA Summit Congress

by H.E. Minister Yu Myung-hwan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

April 22, 2010

Mr. Park Jung-chan, President and CEO of Yonhap News Agency,
Mr. Park Jin, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the National Assembly,
Mr. Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf, Chairman of the OANA, Distinguished Delegates,

 It is indeed a great pleasure and honor for me to welcome all of you to the OANA (Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies) Summit Congress.

 The OANA, since its establishment in 1961, on a UNESCO initiative, has endeavored to promote the direct and free exchange of information between news agencies in the region. It has also worked hard in seeking to ensure greater free access to information, lessen the digital divide, and even deal with such global issues as famine, disease and unemployment. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for the invaluable role you have played.

 I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the Yonhap News Agency for all the hard work to make this wonderful event possible. Since its launch in 1981, Yonhap has continued to open the new horizon, emerging as Korea's leading news agency, earning widespread respect and trust. In particular, it has played a significant role in enhancing access to news and information on Korea by providing news services in six languages.
Now Yonhap is reaching out to play a leading role in the Asia-Pacific region to work out solutions to challenges that we all face. In this respect, it is indeed a meaningful undertaking that Yonhap is hosting the CEO summit of OANA members under the theme of "Challenges and opportunity for news agencies."

 In particular, I believe it noteworthy that news agencies from around the Asia-Pacific region have gathered here today. The Asia-Pacific region is indisputably an emerging area in the 21st century in terms of its GDP and trade volume. The dynamic nature of the region presents common challenges that no individual country or entity can tackle alone.

 It is in recognition of the importance of regional cooperation that the Korean Government announced the "New Asia Initiative" in March 2009. The initiative seeks to promote the strengthening of partnerships among countries in the region and the fostering of more systematic cooperation.

 We are now witnessing the enormous evolution of media platforms. The fundamental challenge we face is that media platforms are evolving in such a rapid manner that applications for each platform are becoming outdated so quickly.

 Accordingly, the OANA Conference, bringing together 44 news agencies, presents a rare and precious opportunity for us all to share our experiences and engage in discussions on ideas with a view to coming up with the best possible solutions.
If we can draw up action plans to make the most of new emerging media platforms, it will certainly help to provide more equal and faster information access for a greater number of people and encourage proactive communication among citizens. And all of these will be conducive to fostering an environment in which democracy can truly blossom and mature.

Ladies and gentlemen,

 I would like to bring my welcoming remarks to a close by reminding you some of upcoming global events that Korea is to host. Currently, Korea is exerting dedicated efforts in the preparations for the G20 Summit in November in Seoul. In addition, Seoul will be hosting the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF-4) in 2011, which is an important part of the international endeavors to identify ways to more effectively manage the aid process. Furthermore, Seoul will host the second Nuclear Security Summit in 2012, as we seek to continue to play a valuable part in achieving the global task of a nuclear weapon-free world.

 In order to contribute more to the international community, we have also joined the OECD Development Assistance Committee, and are continuing to dispatch PKO troops to areas experiencing difficulties. It is my sincere hope that the distinguished guests here today do join our efforts because, in a world more closely intertwined than ever, we face common problems, and the only way to resolve these challenges is for us to work together.

 I would therefore like to invite you to share your invaluable insights. I have every confidence that you will find yourselves enriched by the pooling of your wisdom and would like to thank you in advance for your valuable participation.

Thank you.