Prime Minister-nominee
Han Seung-soo |
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Prime Minister nominee Han Seung-soo said it is now time to think about a far-sighted, durable strategy for energy diplomacy.
Han said energy diplomacy should be about more than just securing energy resources and importing them from oil-rich countries.
``Instead, the diplomacy should be a more sustainable and mutually-beneficial one that goes beyond a one-off energy trade between the exporter and importer,'' he said.
The nominee made the remarks at a workshop in Seoul. President-elect Lee Myung-bak and the transition team members also participated in the workshop.
The workshop was designed to craft the direction of the incoming government, which will be inaugurated on Feb. 25.
President-elect Lee has stressed energy diplomacy as a core national strategy of the next government and has strengthened his move to secure energy resources.
Last Thursday, a group of energy developers in Korea signed a memorandum of understanding with Iraq's autonomous region of Kurdistan.
Under the contract, Korea secured a development rights deal to oil fields in northern Iraq.
The area is known to have enough crude oil to meet the country's energy consumption needs for up to two years.
Samsung Corp., UI Energy, Daesung Industrial and Samchully are core parts of the local consortium for the developers.
Lee picked Han as prime minister as he was considered the most suitable person for the job as he has extensive national and international experience in public services.
Han, a former special envoy on climate change for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said the government should build far-sighted diplomatic ties with the energy-rich countries by transferring its expertise in its successful experiences in industrialization to these countries.
``The government needs to seek more than a short-term trade-oriented relationship with these exporters,'' Han said.
``Korea could use its human capital and other resources to set a mutually-beneficial, long-term relationship with these countries,'' he said.
Han pledged that he would work hard with his people to devise a strategy for sustainable energy diplomacy once the parliamentary hearing is successfully completed.
The National Assembly is now preparing for the prime minister-nominee' hearing, which is expected to take place between Feb. 20 and 21.
The nominee also stressed the Korean government's leadership role in resolving global environmental issues.
Han said the less developed world is struggling to deal with key global environmental agendas such as climate change, global warming and natural disasters.
``The new government needs to help the industry prosper so that it can lend a helping hand to the countries in the underdeveloped world,'' the nominee said.
hkang@koreatimes.co.kr
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