Vice Minister Choi Jong-geon: "Strengthening Multilateralism Cooperation and Expanding Peace Cooperation on the Korean Peninsula"…Congratulatory Speech at the Korea-Canada Forum

Vice Minister Choi Proposes Expansion of Korea-Canada Cooperation in the Post-COVID-19 Era

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Choi Jong-geon, the First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the need for cooperation between Korea and Canada in the post-COVID-19 era during his congratulatory speech at the Korea-Canada Forum, a representative Korea-Canada private consultative body, on the 23rd.

Vice Minister Choi expressed gratitude to Canadian veterans of the Korean War and mentioned the Korean government’s donation of masks, stating, "Through the Korea-Canada FTA, active people-to-people exchanges, and close communication between the heads of state and high-level officials of both countries in response to COVID-19, the relationship between the two countries is deepening."

He then proposed future cooperation expansion plans between Korea and Canada in the post-COVID-19 era, including leading international cooperation to strengthen the multilateral order, close collaboration in the Fourth Industrial Revolution fields such as digital and green new deals and artificial intelligence where Canada has strengths, and cooperation for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace.

Deputy Foreign Minister Marta Morgan, who also gave a congratulatory speech, said, "The two countries, as partners sharing common understandings and values, are closely cooperating on regional security, human rights, gender equality, the Arctic, climate change, COVID-19 response, vaccine development, and global issues, as well as on multilateral platforms such as the UN, WTO, OECD, and APEC." She added, "Canada, as Korea’s long-time ally and a Pacific nation, will continue to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula."

Marking its 17th year this year, the Korea-Canada Forum is a private consultative body established in 1996 to promote continuous development and cooperation between Korea and Canada. This year’s forum was held via video conference.

The forum was attended by former Prime Minister Lee Hong-gu, former Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Security Im Seong-jun, Kim Myung-ja, Chairperson of the Seoul International Forum (former Minister of Environment), and from the Canadian side, former Deputy Foreign Minister Leonard Edwards, Senator Yonah Martin, and Dana Brown, Dean of the Business School at Carleton University.

Additionally, more than 50 officials from both countries, including Ambassador Jang Kyung-ryong to Canada and Ambassador Michael Danagher to Korea, participated to discuss ways to expand economic, trade, political, and security cooperation between Korea and Canada.