Special Advisor Moon Jung-in: "Multilateral Cooperation Lost Its Color After Trump... Now Is the Right Time to Restore Multilateralism"

"US-China Conflict Intensifies, Resolution Possible Only Through Multilateral Cooperation"…US-China Tensions Will Continue Even Under President Biden
Song Young-gil, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee, "Need to Find US-China Common Ground…South Korea's Role Also Necessary"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "Since President Trump became the head of the U.S. administration, multilateral cooperation itself has lost its color."

Moon Jung-in, the President's Special Advisor on Unification, Foreign Affairs, and Security, made this assessment on the 6th at the 15th Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity during the 'World Leaders Session: New Leadership for Multilateral Cooperation' held in Jeju, stating, "Now is the time to discuss how to restore multilateralism."

He particularly emphasized the necessity of multilateral cooperation amid the intensifying U.S.-China conflict. Special Advisor Moon said, "Multilateral cooperation is absolutely necessary, and only through multilateral cooperation can problems be solved," adding, "The competition for hegemony will continue, but what must be avoided is paying a price or going down the wrong path."

He also predicted, "Even if Joe Biden becomes president, pressure on China will continue."

He proposed the need for global solidarity. Special Advisor Moon advised, "Countries with shared intentions must unite firmly and join forces in the post-COVID era," and "Countries such as Korea, the European Union (EU), Japan, and Australia should take the lead in driving global solidarity."

On the same day, Song Young-gil, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, who was present with Special Advisor Moon, mentioned that the U.S. and China need to reach a compromise regarding their conflict. He said, "Even if the U.S. surrounds China, I believe it will be difficult to bring China down," and "The U.S. and China should compromise, jointly respond to global issues, and find common ground."

He added, "I believe the U.S. and China can find common ground, and Korea should also find its role."

Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy, who participated via video in the session, predicted that Biden would win the upcoming U.S. presidential election, describing him as "a person who pursues multilateralism and has the capability," and "someone who has a vision for both Asia and Europe."

Earlier, President Moon Jae-in stated in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony, "A multilateral peace regime is the essential spirit for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia."

President Moon said, "This year marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Although an armistice agreement was signed, a peace treaty has not been concluded, so Korea is still not completely free from war, and the pain and sorrow caused by the war have not ended."

He emphasized, "Peace remains a long-standing wish of Korea. Korea will never cease efforts to completely end the war on the Korean Peninsula and achieve denuclearization and lasting peace," and "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential for the peace and prosperity of the entire Northeast Asia."

In particular, President Moon cited the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics as an example of a multilateral peace regime. He said, "The successful 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, known as the Peace Olympics, dramatically demonstrated that the determination of the South and North and multilateral cooperation can bring peace to the Korean Peninsula and contribute to world peace."

President Moon stated, "The South and North have repeatedly confirmed that they are a community of life and safety by experiencing infectious diseases, livestock epidemics, and natural disasters together," and expressed confidence that "the ‘Northeast Asia Disease Control and Health Cooperation Mechanism,’ embodying the spirit of solidarity and inclusion, will protect each other's lives and safety and open the path toward peace on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia, and ultimately the world."

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