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| President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee disembark from the presidential jet as it arrives at Zurich Airport in Switzerland, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap |
By Nam Hyun-woo
DAVOS ― President Yoon Suk Yeol will urge the international community to embrace "solidarity and cooperation" to address global supply chain issues and ensure a transition to clean energy at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, according to the presidential office, Wednesday.
After wrapping up his state visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he arrived in the Swiss city, Wednesday (local time), to meet with a group of CEOs from Korean and multinational companies, and attend the WEF, also known as Davos Forum.
The presidential office said that Yoon will deliver a special speech at Thursday's session of the prestigious forum where more than 40 world leaders, 300 public officials and 2,000 business leaders are anticipated to be present.
"The current comprehensive crisis makes it difficult for a single country or a single company to cope," senior presidential secretary for public relations Kim Eun-hye said, adding that during Yoon's attendance at the WEF, he "will stress that solidarity and cooperation based on common values are the only solutions for the world to face this crisis."
During his speech, Yoon will propose "the way of solidarity" to strengthen supply chains, the transition to clean energy and the establishment of digital order, Kim added.
The idea of solidarity through common values is Yoon's catchphrase for handling international issues, as part of his belief that the trends of increasing geopolitical risks, weakening of the World Trade Organization and growing protectionism can be addressed by groups of countries sharing similar values, such as democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Yoon's attendance will be the first time in nine years that a Korean president is taking part in the WEF. The most recent appearance by a Korean leader was former President Park Geun-hye, who attended the forum in 2014.
Previous President Moon Jae-in delivered a speech at the WEF's Davos Agenda Week in January 2021, but the event was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
So far, Korean presidents have used the WEF as a stage to present their administration's philosophies and initiatives to the global stage.
Former President Lee Myung-bak, who was the first Korean president to attend the WEF in 2010, delivered a special speech proposing the direction that the world should pursue to recover from the global financial crisis.
At the time, he urged the reform of financial regulations toward a more resilient global financial system and the overhaul of international financial institutions.
He suggested that sustainable global economic growth would be possible when the economic gap between nations is narrowed, and cooperation between developed and developing countries is enhanced.
Former President Park gave her keynote speech at the 2014 edition of the WEF, and proposed the world to join her domestic economic initiative she called the "creative economy." She said, "The world can overcome challenges only through innovation and efforts based on creativity."
Former President Moon also promoted his domestic initiative known as the "Korean version of the New Deal policy" and Seoul's efforts to combat the pandemic.
"The WEF will be a stage showcasing how Korea will respond to comprehensive crises and come up with solutions," the presidential spokesperson said.
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| President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee applaud during a meeting with Switzerland-based Korean nationals at a hotel in Zurich, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap |
Yoon touched down in Zurich on Tuesday afternoon, after wrapping up his four-day state visit to the United Arab Emirates. This year marks the 60th anniversary of Korea-Switzerland diplomatic relations.
"This is the 60th year of Korea and Switzerland forming diplomatic ties," Yoon said during a dinner meeting with Korean nationals in Switzerland on Tuesday night. "Based on the mutual trust and cooperation that the two countries have accumulated so far, we will make greater efforts for the next 60 years of prosperity."
Yoon said he is convinced that national interests and economic prosperity will follow when Korea is in solidarity with international society based on the common values of freedom, human rights and rule of law.
"In the era of science and technological competition, we will strengthen cutting-edge science-technology cooperation with tech powerhouses that share a common value, namely Switzerland," the president said.
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