Speaker Woo Wonshik: "International Cooperation Based on Multilateralism Is Urgently Needed"

Opening Remarks at the MIKTA Speakers' Meeting

On the 12th, National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonshik called for cooperation among national parliaments at the MIKTA Speakers' Meeting, a consultative body of middle-power countries by region, emphasizing that "international cooperation based on multilateralism is urgently needed."

Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly, is delivering the opening remarks at the opening ceremony of the 11th MIKTA Speakers' Meeting held at the Grand & Vista Walkerhill Hotel in Seoul on the 12th. MIKTA is an acronym formed from the first letters of the English names of Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, and Australia, and was established under Korea's leadership in September 2013. Photo by Yonhap News

At the meeting held at the Grand & Vista Walkerhill Hotel in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul on the same day, Speaker Woo delivered his opening remarks, stating, "The world is passing through a major turning point. Amid intensifying geopolitical conflicts and complex crises, countries around the world are fiercely striving to protect their own interests."

He continued, "Based on its achievements so far, MIKTA stands at a point where it must redefine its role and jointly seek directions for cooperation toward a future of integration and coexistence. The role of parliaments is more important than ever."

He added, "The inclusive leadership and practical cooperation of MIKTA parliaments will serve as a driving force of hope, reemphasizing multilateralism and promoting international cooperation in an international environment dominated by conflict, division, and uncertainty."

MIKTA is an interregional consultative group composed of middle-power countries, including Korea, Mexico, Indonesia, T?rkiye, and Australia, which are G20 member states that do not belong to the G7 or BRICS and rank 12th to 18th in the world in terms of GDP. It was launched under Korea's leadership on the occasion of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in 2013.

At this year's Speakers' Meeting, hosted by Korea as the chair country, Puan Maharani, Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives; Paulina Rubio, Deputy Speaker of the Mexican House of Representatives; Sue Lines, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives; and Mevl?t ?avu?o?lu, Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, participated as representatives of their respective parliaments.