'2022 DMZ Forum'... Gyeonggi-do Presents a New Vision for Peace

September 16-17 at Goyang KINTEX... Over 110 Domestic and International Scholars Participate
Discussion on Development and Conservation of Northern Gyeonggi Border Area and Inter-Korean Peace Cooperation Measures

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] A forum will be held to alleviate the political, military, and security tensions on the Korean Peninsula through ecology and environment and to discuss a new vision for peace.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 13th that it will hold the "2022 DMZ Forum" on the 16th and 17th at KINTEX in Goyang to focus on the possibilities of the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and to illuminate a new vision for peace.

The province plans to highlight at the forum that the DMZ has been reborn as a global biodiversity hotspot despite high tensions and conflicts, through 70 years of "self-healing."

The core content of the peace vision is expected to be revealed in the opening keynote dialogue on the 16th under the theme "Inspiration and Vision for Greater Peace," featuring Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon and Ewha Womans University Chair Professor Choi Jae-chun.

Governor Kim is expected to unveil Gyeonggi Province's new vision regarding the "Greater Peace" initiative, development and conservation of the northern border area of Gyeonggi, and inter-Korean peace cooperation.

Following this, Gyeonggi Province will also consider ways to contribute to sustainable peace in collaboration with businesses, the public sector, and civil society.

In particular, among the four divisions and 15 sessions, sessions seeking alternatives for clearing financial sanctions on North Korea upon the reopening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex and finding breakthroughs for resuming inter-Korean exchanges are attracting much attention.

Through analysis of the Iran-EU payment system, new alternatives for clearing payments after the reopening of the Kaesong Industrial Complex will be discussed, and ways to expand the autonomy of inter-Korean economic cooperation within the consensus of the international community will be explored.

There will also be discussions on applying the "Helsinki Declaration" of 1975, which included the US and the former Soviet Union, to the Korean Peninsula and strengthening Gyeonggi-Europe cooperation to resume inter-Korean cooperation.

Several decades-long bridges between North Korea and the international community, such as former European Parliament member Glyn Ford and former security advisor to the German Chancellor's Office Wolfgang Nohab, will appear as keynote speakers in the session.

Following the two-day forum, on the 24th, a "Citizen Forum" will be held at Paju Peace Nuri Park with about 200 residents from northern Gyeonggi to discuss the value of the DMZ and present a Gyeonggi-style "peace agenda" and "peace vision."

A provincial official said, "We ask for the interest and support of the residents for this DMZ Forum, which reexamines the value of the DMZ and expands the meaning of peace."

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