Ministry of Foreign Affairs Holds 7th Green Roundtable... Discussing 'Post-Corona' and 'Green New Deal'

Minister Kang Kyung-wha Emphasizes Importance of Green New Deal Policy Promoted by Korean Government
Chairman Ban Ki-moon: "Let's Make 2020 a Year That Changes the Course of Climate Change"

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is giving a greeting at the 'Green Round Table' held on the 24th at the Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 24th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 7th Green Round Table under the theme of "Green New Deal Policy Directions in the Post-COVID-19 Era" at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul. The Green Round Table is a forum launched in 2016 under the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss ways to form networks, collaborate, and create synergies among the government, international organizations, academia, and businesses in the fields of climate environment and green economy. It has been held six times to date.

This Green Round Table was co-hosted with GGGI (Global Green Growth Institute) and EIT Climate-KIC, a European Union (EU) think tank. Approximately 120 domestic and international participants from the diplomatic corps in Korea, related ministries, academia, and international organizations attended.

The Green Round Table was divided into two sessions: "The Importance of the Green New Deal as a Policy for Economic Recovery and Future Climate Change and Environmental Crisis Response in the Post-COVID-19 Era" and "Trends of the Green Deal in the International Community and Its Implications for Korea: Success Factors of the Korean-style Green New Deal," with presentations and discussions held.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha introduced the Korean government's efforts to respond to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in her welcoming remarks and emphasized the importance of the Green New Deal policy that the Korean government is promoting for post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

Minister Kang stated, "The Green New Deal policy reflects our government's will to make post-COVID-19 economic recovery policies more inclusive and environmentally friendly," adding, "I hope that the ambitious climate change response goals presented at the P4G Summit, which our government will host next year, and the Green New Deal pursued during the post-COVID-19 economic recovery process will serve as a stepping stone for the successful hosting of COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, to be held in the UK in November next year."

Furthermore, Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the GGGI Assembly and Board of Directors, emphasized in his congratulatory remarks that "the economic recovery policies of countries in response to COVID-19 must reflect the importance of climate commitments, which is the political and moral responsibility that the current generation owes to future generations." He also added, "Let us make 2020 a year that changes the course of climate change by making sustainable development and green growth the core of policies and norms."

Kim Jung-wook, Private Chairman of the Green Growth Committee, also mentioned in his congratulatory remarks that the Green New Deal policy should reflect efforts for economic recovery such as job creation as well as considerations for the world 50 or 100 years from now. He expressed hope that Korea, which has so far succeeded in responding to COVID-19 and received international recognition, will also become a model for the international community in the Green New Deal.

Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, highly praised in a congratulatory video message that the Korean government is not only successfully coping with COVID-19 but also preparing a 21st-century growth strategy through the Green New Deal policy. She stated, "Korea, which has overcome many difficulties in history and achieved remarkable changes, is expected to achieve an inclusive, future-oriented, and sustainable economic recovery."

On the occasion of this Green Round Table event, a video highlighting the achievements of GGGI, a green international organization based in Korea, over the past 10 years was also screened to celebrate the 10th anniversary of GGGI’s establishment. Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the GGGI Assembly and Board of Directors, also presented Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha with a photo book commemorating the 10th anniversary of GGGI’s founding.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.