Jo attends 2nd Korea-US Diplomacy Forum
Speaker says he is preparing to visit US next year
National Assembly Speaker Jo Jeong-sik said Tuesday that the Korea-US relationship is passing through a more critical period than ever, and called for joint efforts to translate the Joint Fact Sheet agreed upon at last year's Korea-US summit into tangible results.
Jo made the remarks at the 2nd Korea-US Diplomacy Forum, held at the Glad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. He praised the Korea-US Legislators' Alliance for its role as a standing communication channel between the two countries' legislatures, and underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening the alliance and expanding future bilateral cooperation.
"The smooth implementation of the Joint Fact Sheet is a critical issue for the future development of bilateral relations — stabilizing economic and trade ties, modernizing the Korea-US alliance, and deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries," Jo said.
He also praised the alliance, formed on a bipartisan basis by more than 150 ruling and opposition lawmakers, as "a precious bridge for the development of relations between the two countries," adding that it had worked alongside government diplomacy by discussing avenues for inter-parliamentary cooperation and hosting various diplomatic forums as a standing communication channel linking the two legislatures.
"The Korea-US alliance, now in its 73rd year, is an exemplary alliance by global standards," Jo said. "There were times when we had to reconcile differing positions, but each time we found a way through dialogue and grew stronger — and that will continue to be the case." He added that the role of the legislature was growing in that process, and that key bilateral challenges in economic trade and security cooperation must be further consolidated through inter-parliamentary cooperation.
Jo also said he was preparing to visit the United States next year in his capacity as Assembly speaker, and pledged to do his utmost to deepen mutual cooperation and friendship between the two countries and further strengthen the Korea-US alliance.
bigroot@heraldcorp.com
