Korea, Norway agree to expand economic cooperation
At the meeting, President Roh and Crown Prince Haakon agreed to expand bilateral trade and investments as well as people-to-people exchanges taking advantage of the Korea-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) FTA, which took effect in September last year. Norway is a member country of the EFTA along with Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. They also concurred on the need to further reinforce substantive cooperation in such areas as shipping, fisheries and information and telecommunications based on the two countries’ respective competitiveness in these sectors and complementary economic structures.
Meanwhile, President Roh gave a positive assessment of Norway’s humanitarian assistance to North Korea. The Norwegian Crown Princess reaffirmed that his country would fully support the Korean Government’s North Korea policy and its effort to resolve the issue of Pyongyang’s nuclear program through the Six Party Talks.
The President and First Lady praised Norway and the royal family for their leading role in upholding human values and moral principles, including their efforts to foster world peace, extend assistance to developing countries, and support women and welfare policy. The President also expounded on the initiative that the Korean Government is undertaking to accomplish reconciliation, peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. He highlighted the Government’s contribution to maintaining peace around the world, economic assistance to developing countries and drive for improving gender equality and welfare in Korea. Crown Prince Hakkon welcomed these efforts by the Korean Government.
One of the world’s top three oil exporters and a powerhouse in maritime shipping, shipbuilding and fishery, Norway has led the way in official development assistance (ODA), as attested by the country’s top-ranking ODA figure as percentage of gross national income during 2002-2005 period. Norway has also made a great contribution to mediating regional conflicts such as the one in the Middle East. Korea’s ties with Norway date back to the Korean War, when the Scandinavian country sent a medical unit to the Korean Peninsula and established a medical facility.
웹사이트: http://www.president.go.kr
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2008년 8월 6일 17:22
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