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1. Preamble
I am delighted to see you, the members of Chinese and foreign press, here in Beijing.
I visited China three times in the past. However, I am deeply moved this time as I am a state guest. I have been very impressed by China's development.
I held a summit meeting with President Jiang Zemin yesterday and had profitable discussions on bilateral relations, conditions in the region, and international issues. In my speech at Beijing University, I enunciated my opinion on the direction the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China should take in the 21st century.
2. On the need for bilateral cooperation
China has the largest population in the world, is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is the seventh largest economy and the 10th largest trading nation. I expect that its status in the international community will continue to rise in the future.
On the other hand, the Republic of Korea is currently experiencing economic difficulties. However, it is a newly industrialized nation and the 12th largest trading country in the world. Along with Japan, it is the only OECD member nation in Asia.
Consequently, I believe that active cooperation and joint efforts between the Republic of Korea and the People's Republic of China are very much needed, if we are to maintain peace and stability in Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula, and to achieve steady development and prosperity by overcoming the current economic crises at early date.
3. On the results of the summit talks
Our bilateral relations have steadily developed since the establishment of relations in 1992, centered around the economy. Keeping these points in mind, during my current visit to China, I have made efforts to develop the cooperative relations between Korea and China a notch higher in diverse areas including politics, the economy, security, culture and people-to-people exchanges.
Furthermore, during my visit, I made my best efforts to help strengthen ROK-PRC cooperation for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, overcome the Asian economic crisis and further promote bilateral cooperation in the international community.
I believe that my visit to China has reaped desirable fruit because of the sincere interest and cooperation of President Jiang Zemin, his Government and the Chinese people.
The most significant result of the Korea-China summit is that the two countries established a solid cooperative partnership for the 21st century and documented it in the form of a joint statement. Our cooperative relationship willcontribute to expanding bilateral ties in politics, the economy, culture, people-to-people exchanges and in all other areas, ultimately helping secure development and stability in the Asia- Pacific as a whole. It is quite meaningful that the joint statement specifically mentions visions for bilateral ties and translates them into concrete measures for cooperation.
There were several other major accomplishments of the summit. First, President Jiang expressed understanding and support for our gradual engagement policies toward North Korea and promised that China would continue to play a constructive role in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Second, the two countries agreed to cooperate closely to help solve the current economic and financial crisis in Asia and to further develop trade, economic and industrial exchanges.
Third, the two countries decided to work together to help solve such issues as armaments, drug trafficking, terrorism, international crime and other global problems as well as coordinate international efforts in the United Nations, APEC, ASEM and other multinational organizations.
Fourth, the two countries provisionally signed a Korea-China Fisheries Agreement yesterday, virtually putting an end to the long negotiations process.
As for the general atmosphere of the summit, I was extremely impressed by President Jiang's eagerness in developing a viable China- Korea relationship as well as his perspective on international relations. It was very rewarding to have been able to deepen my friendship and trust with the Chinese leader. I have invited President Jiang to visit Korea, and he graciously accepted.
The need for both Korea and China to closely consult and cooperate in the effort to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific cannot be emphasized too much. To this end, I hope to have more frequent exchanges of views with President Jiang and other Chinese leaders in the future.
My series of summit talks with the leaders of the U.S.--last June and later in the month--Japan and China in parallel with Prime Minister Obuchi's summit with the Russian leader, November 11-13, and President Jiang's planned visit to Japan, November 25-30, constitute extraordinary diplomatic efforts by leaders of the region and are certainly encouraging for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.
Through this visit, I feel a sense of heightened responsibility to pursue peace and overcome the current economic crisis in my country as well as the region, because I represent the only remaining divided country and at the same time a country that is a major economic player in the world today.
Now, I will take any questions that you might have.
Following script is excerpt for press conference with the President Kim Dae-jung, which is unofficially translated and will be updated as soon as terms and phrases in the script are confirmed.
[ Question ]
Reporter Kim, Kyung-Joong from Munwha Broadcasting Corp.
During the Korea-China summit, the Chinese President Jiang Zemin has agreed to play a more constructive role in ensuring peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. Specifically, what are your expectations of China's role on the Korea's security issues and was there any talks on the possibility of holding a summit between the two Koreas?
[ Answer ] President Kim Dae-jung :
We exchanged views on wide range of issues concerning North Korea in our meeting. However, there was no mention of the possibility of holding summit talks with North Korea. As you all know, the Chinese government's policy towards the Korean peninsula basically centers on two key factors; they are first, preserving peace on the Korean peninsula and second, allowing the two Koreas to seek autonomous resolution to mend out our differences. The Chinese government has consistently stuck to this policy and also to Korea's global policy on North Korea .
There are three elements that basically outline Seoul's global policy towards the North. They are first, South Korea will not tolerate any form of invasion from the North, second, South Korea has no intention of achieving unification by absorption and third, Korea will continuously seek for reconciliation and cooperation with the North. I believe that China's unwavering attitudes towards these policies have enabled them to play an effective role in the four-party talks held last month. I have emphasized the importance of these three key points to President Jiang during our talks yesterday and I have once again reiterated my determination never to exercise any form of military aggression nor hold hostile attitudes towards the North. Having heard these words directly from myself, I believe I have gained President's Jiang's full trust and cooperation.
Based on this trust, I hope China will play a more constructive role on the issues surrounding the Korean peninsula as well as strengthen its cooperative ties with the two governments in order to bring peace and stability to this region.
It is my understanding that President Jiang has built solid trust of our government as we consistently stood by our three basic principles towards the North and at the same time, made conscious effort to improve ties on civilian level by offering economic assistance to North Korea such as launching the KumKang Mountain development project and sending herds of cows. I firmly believe President Jiang, after reaffirming our committment to achieve reconciliation with the North through various economic assistance, will continue to play a constructive role so that stability and ultimately peace can be achieved in this region.
[ Question ]
A chinese reporter from Shinwha-sa press.
The four northeast Asian countries including China, Japan, Korea, and Russia have recently shown trends of normalizing diplomatic relations with one another. What is the significance of the cooperative and diplomatic ties recently developed among the four nations and also in your opinion, what should be done to maintain peace and stability throughout this region?
[ Answer ] President Kim Dae-jung :
The five countries including the two Koreas, China, Japan, and Russia have recently moved closer to building strong ties with one another because it is considered crucial to maintaining peace and stability in this region. Also, our strong ties is both beneficial to our prosperity and to the resolution of economic crisis facing this region.
As you are all aware of, there are two world organizations for improving security and cooperation throughout the globe. Unfortunately such forum does not exist in this region. Therefore, currently, there is no place for the countries in this northeast Asian region to discuss and exchange various issues of mutual interests ranging from economy, culture, and many more. I believe there is a need to create a forum in which this exchanges can be achieved. Throughout my visits to the United States, Japan and now China, I have felt the importance of establishing a multilateral security and cooperation forum in Northeast Asia not only for bringing peace and stability to this region but also for building solid cooperative ties with one another.
Three years ago, in my publication on the three steps to achieving unification on the Korean peninsula, I have proposed a necessity for the formation of a six-party security body which include the two Koreas, east and west Germanys, Japan, and the United States for bringing peace, stability and cooperation to the region. During my visits to Japan and the United States, I received favorable response from both Prime Minister Obuchi and President Clinton. I also expressed my view to President Jiang yesterday. I believe this is an issue that needs to be further discussed in the future.
[ Question ]
Reporter for Tass.
What is the current domestic situation of North Korea?
[ Answer ] President Kim Dae-jung :
I believe nobody has an accurate understanding of what the situation is like in the North. It is my understanding that North Korea has found some stability as the process of power shift has completed with Kim Jung-Il's inauguration as the head of the state. And North Korea's efforts to build up its military strength remain unchanged. However, I detect signs of gradual change in North Korea following the People's Conference.
First, they have revised their Constitution and show signs of market economy of early socialist country. Second, they are showing active response to the four-party talks which subsequently enabled the four parties to reach an agreement. And thirdly, Kim Jong-Il is directly involving himself to matters of business as he took the liberty of meeting Chung, Ju-Yong, the group founder of Hyundai conglomerate to discuss business projects including the Kumkang Mountain development project when Chung visited North Korea last month. This is unprecedented and North Korea has never shown such an active response before.
I believe such signs are positive and will be favorable to achieving reconciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas and further development between the two countries can be expected. Already, exchange between the two countries are actively taking place mostly on a civilian level and I hope this relations will continue to grow.
[ Question ]
Paik, Soo-Hyang, a reporter from SBS. Through this summit, you and President Jiang have agreed to take the relationship between the two countries to a higher plane by fostering a cooperative partnership. What are the steps that can be taken to develop bilateral ties on politics and security?
[ Answer ] President Kim Dae-jung :
For politics, as declared in our joint statement, we will expand bilateral cooperation and exchanges in all areas including promoting exchange of politicians, scholars, civilians and more. Therefore, our future exchange programs will most likely become very active. I have also offered Korea's endorsement of China's desire to become a member of WTO and of the Bangkok agreement. In addition, we will work closely and cooperatively to overcome the economic crisis facing Asia.
Furthermore, Korea respects Beijing's "one China policy." Based on all of our agreements, I believe we have paved the way for establishing a relations in which all matters can be freely discussed between the two countries.
As for security issues, we have agreed to upgrade our bilateral ties on security to the ministeral level. We will cooperate with each other on all matters concerning security to ultimately bring peace to our region.
[ Question ]
Reporter from China's People's Daily.
I would like to address the issue concerning North and South Koreas. Recently, Hyundai group founder Chung, Ju-Young visited North Korea and he received a warm welcome from the North. Do you see the success of Chung's visit as the direct result of your "sunshine policy" of engagement of North Korea? And are you happy with the outcome of Chung's visit?
Also, since Chung received a warm welcome from Kim, Jong-Il, will you be willing to offer your warm greetings in return if a group of economic mission were to be dispatched to South Korea? Lastly, you will be participating in the APEC summit scheduled to be held in Malaysia. What kind of expectations do you have for the upcoming APEC summit?
[ Answer ] President Kim Dae-jung :
Frankly, I do not see the favorable outcome of Chung's visit to North Korea as the direct result of my "sunshine policy" towards the North. However, the worldwide media has been reporting the favorable outcome of Chung's visit as the result of Seoul's consistent attitudes towards the North. I believe it is the result of our belief that exchange between the two countries must be achieved at an appropriate level so that business exchange can be made on a business basis and civilian exchange on a civilian basis.
There has been several obstacles that might have discouraged our government to maintain our policy of reconciliation and cooperation towards the North. The infiltration of the North Korea's submarine and North Korea's continuous development of nuclear arms are just some of the incidents. Inspite of these obstacles, our government remained firm on our position towards the North and I think this resulted in gaining favorable response from the North.
I see no reason for not offering my best welcome to group of economic mission from the North if both sides share the same interests. I will be more than happy to meet them if it is realized. Two contrasting issues remain to be tackled during the APEC meeting. That is, the developed countries and developing countries share a different view on the topic of interests. The developed countries demand for liberalization of trade and investments whereas the developing countries are asking to put more weight on the issue of economic and technological cooperations. I expect this will be one of the key issues to be resolved during the upcoming APEC summit.
The current financial crisis sweeping through Asia is another matter that needs to be resolved. I believe based on how much of a role APEC plays to contain the further spread of financial crisis in Asia will determine the future status of APEC. I agree with others in saying that during the upcoming meeting, the developed countries need to offer financial assistance whereas developing countries must show their willingness to reform their financial and social structures. Furthermore, the issue relating to the very essence of APEC must be addressed during the upcoming summit so that APEC members can decide whether to consider APEC as just an open forum in which discussions can freely take place or a body which will grow to gain more weight and importance as an organization with executive powers.
[ Question ]
Russian Reporter
You have visited the United States, Japan, and China, and have met with leaders of these countries to discuss various matters. I understand you had in-depth discussion on security issues with these leaders. Do you have plans to visit Russia and discuss security issues with Russian President Yeltsin?
[ Answer ] President Kim Dae-jung :
My trips to the United States, Japan, and China are also considered to be very important to improving Korea's ties with these countries. My visit to Russia will be as important as my earlier visits. Therefore, I hope I will be invited to visit Russia in the near future. During the APEC summit, our foreign ministers are scheduled to hold official meeting. I hope I will be given a chance to visit Russia sometime next year.
This
material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin
Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of
International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the
opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or
its directors, officers, employees, agents. Copyright © 2007 by
MIIS.
