President Halonen at the World Economic Forum

"Globalisation must be founded on common principles which make it easier for individuals and communities to live a decent life in an equitable and stable world," said President of the Republic Tarja Halonen at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Saturday 25 January 2003.

Juan Somavia, Director-General of ILO, President Halonen and President Mkapa of Tanzania. Foto: Lehtikuva

President Halonen emphasised that in a world of increased interdependence, no country or region could enjoy sustainable development and prosperity as long as a majority of the world's population continued to live in squalor.

The President was taking part in a panel discussion on the theme of values in globalisation. The questions pondered there included what values globalisation should be based on in order for as many people as possible to be able to share its benefits, and what roles are played in this process by governments, business, civil society and international organisations.

The other members of the panel included Presidents Vicente Fox of Mexico, Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland and Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, Indian Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, Toshiba Corporation Chairman Taizo Nishimuro, Director Anthony Giddens of the London School of Economics and Secretary General Irene Khan of Amnesty International. Presidents Halonen and Mkapa are the co-chairs of the ILO World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, the task of which is to seek means of making the social impacts of globalisation more positive.

In addition to the panel discussion of globalisation, President Halonen will be participating during the weekend in other deliberations in Davos, on themes including the global economy, relations between the EU and Russia as well as Europe's role in international cooperation. She will chair a meeting of women business leaders on Sunday morning.