Speech by President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen at the State dinner held in honour of the President of the Republic of Korea Roh Moo-hyun at the Presidential Palace on 7 September 2006

(check against delivery)

Mr President Roh Moo-hyun, Dear Colleague,
Mrs Kwon Yang-sook,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

My husband and I have the great pleasure to welcome you and your wife to Finland. Despite the geographical distance between us, the relations between our two countries have always been very warm. I am glad that we now have this opportunity, after our state visit in 2002, to return your hospitality and show you our country on this occasion of the first state visit from Korea to Finland.

I am happy to note that in particular our economic and cultural relations have developed favourably. Finnish artists in the fields of dance, design, music and the visual arts regularly visit the Republic of Korea. Last weekend here in Helsinki, Finns in turn had an opportunity to enjoy traditional Korean “phansori” performance in which old stories are sung and recited in a powerful manner. In addition, Finland's reputation as a provider of high-level musical education has attracted Korean students and musicians to our country.

In the field of business education, one good example of concrete co-operation is the Executive MBA programme between the Helsinki School of Economics and the Korean Institute for Industrial Policy Studies. More than 1,500 Korean executives have participated in this programme since 1995. The number of Finnish exchange students in Korea has also constantly grown.

All in all, our bilateral relations have developed very well and contacts have increased at all levels. Direct flights between Finland and the Republic of Korea would help intensify the relations even further.

Korea is one of Finland's largest trading partners in Asia. Korean consumer products and world-famous brands have become familiar names in Finland. We are pleased to see that so many Korean companies have accompanied you to Finland and will attend the Korea-Finland Economic Council. Both countries have been successful particularly in information and communications technology. Scientific and technical cooperation between our countries is certainly mutually beneficial, and it is good that progress has been made in this respect – for example in the form of cooperation between the National Technology Agency of Finland and the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology Evaluation and Planning.

Mr President, you are well known for your activities, which aim to improve workers’ rights, the situation of the underprivileged and socially excluded and to reduce the social gap in your country. These issues are important also to us Finns, and more broadly for the Nordic countries. Furthermore, I believe that Finland's success is largely due to the fact that the Finnish system is based on the so-called Nordic welfare society model. This system is grounded on solid democracy, shared responsibility and social justice.

We in Finland consider that it is very important to define policies that are effective, just and alleviate the polarization of the society. We also believe that gender equality can effectively contribute to competitiveness. When people can combine career and family life, both women and men can participate in developing the society and economy. You, Mr. President, are a broad-minded person in many ways. You have also worked actively together with your government to open up the Korean society both economically and culturally to the international community.

Finland supports the Republic of Korea's efforts to deepen the dialogue with your northern neighbour and efforts to develop the security situation in the region. You have also our support in your active promotion of human rights, good governance and economic modernisation in Northeast Asia.

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In addition to this state visit, you are also participating in the EU-Korea Summit and in the ASEM Summit here in Helsinki. So, there are three very good and important reasons for your trip to our Northern country. The EU wishes to expand economic cooperation with Korea, and the EU-Korea Summit provides an excellent opportunity to make progress on many issues of mutual interest. The ASEM Summit has become a well-established forum of cooperation between two regional groups. The aim of the Summit is to strengthen our mutual understanding concerning the need to promote peace, multilateralism, sustainable development, democracy, the respect for human rights and the rule of law.

A globalizing world brings many challenges for us but also numerous opportunities. One of Finland’s objectives – as the current EU Presidency – is to develop Union’s external relations and to reinforce the role of the Union as an international actor. Globally, we all share the common goal of a safe and fair world in which stable development would ensure balanced social and economic conditions for all citizens. Working actively in international organizations - particularly in the United Nations - is an excellent way to achieve this goal.

Both Finland and Korea have been active members and strong supporters of the world organisation. We have taken note, with respect, of your wish to assume more responsibilities in the United Nations and in other sectors of the international community.

I hope that your visit to Finland will be a truly pleasant and rewarding experience.