연설문
제2차 민주주의 정상회의 인태지역회의 개회사(3.30)
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- 2023-03-30 10:08:30
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Opening Remarks by H.E. Park Jin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Indo-Pacific Regional Meeting of the Second Summit for Democracy
Opening Session / March 30, 2023
Your Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol,
My fellow Ministers of the Indo Pacific region,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you
to the Indo-Pacific regional meeting
of the second Summit for Democracy.
Korea is honored to co-host this historic event,
alongside Costa Rica, the Netherlands,
the United States, and Zambia.
Today, we have come together under a shared vision:
to strengthen the foundation of democracy
in our region and around the world.
Regrettably, in recent times, we have witnessed
a concerning retreat of democracy globally.
Now, more than ever,
we must reaffirm our commitment to democracy
and join forces to protect its enduring principles.
The Summit for Democracy offers
an invaluable platform to advance this critical mission.
Time and time again, history has shown
that democracy remains the most effective means
to freedom, peace and prosperity.
As former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated,
“Democracy is not a guarantee of success,
but it is the most powerful and just means
for building well-functioning societies.”
Korea’s own path to democracy
stands as a living testament to this truth.
Our story exemplifies the boundless potential
that arises from embracing democratic ideals.
And the broader Indo-Pacific region,
with its cultural, political and economic diversity,
offers a wealth of experiences and insights
for promoting resilient democracies.
A critical lesson from our collective experience
is the need to remain vigilant
against threats to democracy, such as corruption.
Corruption undermines public trust,
compromises the integrity of our institutions,
and exacerbates inequality.
Most importantly, it impedes progress
toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Addressing this challenge
with determination and unity is our shared duty.
In this spirit, we, the Ministers of the Indo-Pacific region,
adopt the “Seoul Declaration on Challenges
and Progress in Addressing Corruption”.
The Seoul Declaration embodies our shared resolve
to prioritize the fight against corruption
and reaffirm our commitment
to the democratic values we cherish.
And as we delve into meaningful discussions today,
I hope we can inspire reflection
and share innovative approaches and best practices
to translate our commitments into action.
In closing, I trust that today’s meeting
will serve as a catalyst for greater cooperation
in advancing democracy
across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
United in purpose and steadfast
in our commitment to democratic values,
let us embark on a journey
towards a brighter, more democratic future.
Thank you, and I wish you all
a productive and inspiring meeting.