“Korea’s Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative was modeled after the Helsinki Process that has become the foundation for European peace. With the initiative we are working to create a cooperative atmosphere beginning with soft issues.”
“In order to realize the vision of the initiative, we held international forums with countries and international bodies like the United States, China, Japan, Russia, the EU, and the United Nations, all of which acknowledged the need for such an initiative and proposed ways to help it.”
“Both Finland and South Korea are working hard to transform their economies into innovation-led ones, bringing up their R&D investment share in GDP to the world’s highest levels. I believe there is much in common to cooperate in the area of creative economy.”
- President Park Geun-hye of Korea
The Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative that President Park said was inspired by the accords is one of the key diplomatic policies of the current South Korean government. (image: Cheongwadae)
SEOUL, Nov. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean President Park Geun-hye brought up the topic of the Helsinki Process that inspired her Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative while meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb at Cheongwadae (Presidential Palace) on November 20.
She also said that the Korean government held international forums in order to realize the vision of the initiative with countries and international bodies like the United States, China, Japan, Russia, the EU, and the United Nations, all of which acknowledged the need for such an initiative and proposed ways to support it.
The Helsinki Accords, signed in 1975, was the first act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in which 35 states including the United States, the Soviet Union, and most European nations signed the declaration for mutual respect of sovereignty, prevention of war, and protection of human rights.
The Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative that she said was inspired by the accords is one of the key diplomatic policies of the current South Korean government.
In the meeting with the Finnish prime minister, President Park discussed issues such as ways for bilateral cooperation in the areas of creative economy, science and technology, and the defense industry. Both leaders also talked about partnerships in regional and international forums.
By John Choi (johnchoi@koreabizwire.com)
