G20 speakers plan talks on key issues

Following the country’s hosting of the Group of 20 summit last year, the National Assembly is set to host a parliamentary speakers’ forum from Wednesday to Friday.

The G20 Seoul Speakers’ Consultation, starts off with an official welcome dinner to be attended by parliamentary speakers from 26 countries, the European Union and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The countries are mainly G20 states, but five non-G20 states will be included, officials said.

The three-day conference largely takes up the issues addressed in the previous summit talks and is to discuss them at more detailed, legislative levels. The speakers will seek ways to reduce economic imbalances between developed and developing nations.

“Korea has moved from an aid recipient to a donor nation over the past decades and will be able to share its development know-how,” said National Assembly Speaker Park Hee-tae, who will chair the conference.

During the three-day conference, participants will have in-depth discussions on economic development strategies, international coordination towards shared growth and inter-parliamentary collaboration for world peace and anti-terrorism.

Especially in regard to the recent uprisings in the Middle East and the earthquake, tsunami and radiation leaks in Japan, a special session will be held to explore possible legal countermeasures to terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Participants are expected to adopt a joint declaration on Friday urging all countries to step up their anti-terrorism legislation and promote inter-parliamentary diplomacy.

The speakers’ conference is the second of its kind, following the inaugural one which was launched in Ottawa last September.

“We hope to confirm the event as a regular one, to be held annually by the year’s G20 summit host nation,” Park said.

For three days from Wednesday, police will tighten traffic and security control in Yeouido where the National Assembly, venue of the event, is located, officials said.

A traditional Korean house, which was newly built inside the National Assembly compound, will be used for receptions and other sideline events for foreign guests, while the conference will be held at the main Assembly building.

(tellme@heraldcorp.com)