Yoon to urge world leaders to unite to fix supply chain, climate issues at Davos Forum

來源: 開云體育app官方網站 時間: 2023-01-23 09:49:10

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.