What’s New
Speaker makes official visits to Türkiye, Italy, and Israel
- Apr 26, 2023
- 5180
- Calls for support by the international community for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula
- Discusses expanded flights to each country, economic cooperation, startup incubation, and technology exchange
- Requests support for Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030
- Elicits financial support for Korean residents’ long-cherished wish to build an overseas Koreans’ hall in Türkiye
Kim Jin-pyo, the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly Speaker, made official visits to Türkiye, Italy, Israel, and Palestine from March 8 to 18. During his visits, he held in-depth talks with parliamentary leaders and politicians on the international community’s joint response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations, to bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula; incubation of startups and technology exchange; and economic cooperation measures suitable to each nation. The Speaker also requested each government’s support for Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030.
In his latest series of visits, Speaker Kim successfully elicited support from and unity among the international community for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He also was able to promote economic cooperation with each nation and draw attention to the health and safety of Korean travelers and the recovery of overseas Koreans following the Covid-19 crisis.
▲ Attends the MIKTA Speakers’ Consultation in Türkiye and offers condolences to quake-hit nation
Speaker Kim attended the eighth MIKTA Speakers’ Consultation held in Istanbul, Türkiye, on the ninth (local time). Held under the banner of ‘Multilateralism, Global Interdependence and Parliaments,’ this year’s conference was attended by parliamentary delegations from Mexico, Indonesia, Türkiye, Korea, and Australia.
During the event, Kim expressed his heartfelt condolences to both the Turkish people and Korean residents of the country who are suffering from unprecedented losses of life and property in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake last month. He promised cooperation with the international community to responsibly support the quake victims and affected regions. To that end, he suggested supplying temporary container housing to victims and securing funds for Korean residents’ long-cherished wishes of building an overseas Koreans’ hall and Korean language school in the country.
In their joint declaration, parliamentary speakers from the five MIKTA countries agreed to better respond to complex global challenges such as the war in Ukraine and blatant provocations and threats posed by North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs that contradict the desire to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, while underscoring the need to strengthen the multilateral system to better address these challenges and promote a more peaceful and just world order.
In his presentation, Speaker Kim suggested establishing standards to prevent the unwanted side effects of artificial intelligence, such as infringement on personal data and privacy, biased decision-making, hatred, and discrimination.
Kim then met with Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Mustafa Sentop and discussed expanding flights between the two nations in preparation for a rebound of tourism, and closer cooperation in the fields of trade, infrastructure, defense, and nuclear energy.
▲ In Italy and Vatican City, Speaker requests an aerospace MOU between Korea and Italy, and mediation in issues between two Koreas
Speaker Kim held an in-depth discussion with President of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana on the 14th (local time) on science technology cooperation, ways to address issues between the two Koreas, and economic exchange. Kim suggested that the two countries sign an MOU on cooperation in the aerospace sector, saying “To commemorate next year’s 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between our two countries, we could create greater synergy in aerospace, robotics, hydrogen and biotech by combining Italy’s understanding of basic science with Korea’s prowess in applied science.”
President Fontana responded affirmatively, noting that Korea is a leader in the advanced technology sector as well as a cultural powerhouse that exports films and K-pop. He expressed high expectations of growing cooperation in the culture and tourism sectors.
Speaker Kim then met with the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik and held in-depth talks on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, ways to address inter-Korean issues, a bid to host World Youth Day in Korea, and projects to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Vatican and the Republic of Korea.
Kim underlined, “South Korea requires a mediator to push forward denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula, and has no choice but to count on the Holy See. In addition to the Pope’s visit to the North, I hope the Vatican will provide support for the South Korean government’s efforts.” In response, Cardinal Parolin pledged all-out efforts to resolve the inter-Korean issue.
In addition, Speaker Kim requested the Holy See’s support for Korea’s bid to host the next World Youth Day in 2027, a special Mass to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korea-Vatican relations, and the installation of a sculpture of Andrew Kim Tae-gon, the first native Korean Catholic priest, in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
▲ Anticipates more technology exchange, startup incubation, and exchange of advanced technology; and gains insight on science technology jobs
On the 15th (local time), Speaker Kim visited the Knesset, Israel’s unicameral parliament, where he and his counterpart Amir Ohana discussed ways to cooperate on science technology and promoting startups; investment and economic exchange; Busan’s bid to host World Expo 2030; and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. He raised expectations of greater synergy between the two sides through startup incubation based on advanced technology cooperation, saying, “I look forward to expanding cooperation in a variety of high-tech sectors including aerospace, health care, and artificial intelligence.”
Speaker Ohana affirmed that cooperation between the two nations will create synergy between Korea, a technology powerhouse, and Israel, an innovation leader, and that the free trade agreement signed by the two will play an important role in this by welcoming investment from — and technology exchange with — Korea.
After his meeting with Ohana, Speaker Kim traveled to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to meet with Talpiot program trainees and exchanged views on the program’s operational process and creativity learning program. While there, he learned about its educational and training methods from Talpiot officials, who play a pivotal role in cultivating elite Israeli Defense Forces troops with advanced science and technology expertise. Kim then visited Yad Vashem in Jerusalem on the 16th (local time) and laid flowers for the victims of the Holocaust.
▲ Calls for Palestine’s support for Korea’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and Busan’s hosting of World Expo 2030
Speaker Kim met with Prime Minister of the State of Palestine Mohammad Shtayyeh on the 16th (local time) and asked for his support for the Republic of Korea’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-2025 period. He also requested Palestine’s support for Busan as the venue for World Expo 2030. Korea recently submitted its bid application to the International Bureau of Expositions.
Prime Minister Shtayyeh said he remembers that Korea voted for Palestine when it sought the status of non-member observer state in the United Nations in 2012 and pledged to support Korea, while also seeking to persuade other Arab countries to follow suit.
The Speaker and the Prime Minister then shared views on joint ventures, joint investments, economic cooperation, and personnel exchange in advanced technology fields such as artificial intelligence. Regarding matters relating to Palestine’s international status and conflicts with Israel, Kim underlined, “Korea, as a peace-loving nation, has continuously supported the two-state solution and hopes that policies for permanent peace will be pursued.”
The Speaker was joined on his 11-day official trip by parliamentary members Jun Hye-sook, Kwon Chil-seung, Kang Byung-won, Lee Jang-sub, and Hong Kee-won of the Democratic Party of Korea and Lee Eun-ju of the Justice Party; Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Cho Kyung-ho; Ambassadorial Advisor to the Speaker for Foreign Affairs Cho Koo-rae, Director General of the International Affairs and Protocol Bureau Hwang Seung-gi; and Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Yong-kuk.
