Says President Yoon Suk-yeol at Paris meeting on June 20-21
President Yoon Suk-yeol takes very strong interest in making the 2030 World Expo the best of all time by hosting it in the city of Busan, where he vows highlight Korea’s plans to "give back" to the international community all the gains made by Korea through increased win-win cooperation with the outside world.
On June 20-21, President Yoon attended the General Assembly of the Bureau of International Expositions (BIE) in Paris to support Busan's bid to host the 2030 World Expo.
He hosts various activities to promote Busan including at the June 20 presentation of countries competing for the bid and an official reception the next day hosted by Korea for the delegations and diplomatic corps from participating countries.
On the occasion of his trip to Paris, President Yoon on June 20 attended a bilateral summit and luncheon with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Presidential residence Élysée Palace in the French capital.
President Yoon also hosted a meeting with ethnic Korean residents of France and attended talks on innovative future generations of the two countries, digital vision forum and investment announcement ceremony with European companies.
Since his summit with France, Yoon has held bilateral summits with the leaders of all member states of the Group of Seven (G7) and European Union over the past two months.
Because France is the birthplace of freedom, human rights and rule of the law, the universal values of humanity pursued by the Yoon Suk-Yeol government, the two countries at the summit will hold in-depth dialogue on expanding cooperation through value solidarity.
After departing France, Yoon is slated to visit Vietnam for a state visit on June 22-24.
On June 23, he holds a summit with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong of Vietnam on expansion and development of bilateral relations, which have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
President Yoon on the same day is known to hold individual meetings with top Vietnamese leaders including Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and attend a state dinner and other official functions as a state guest.
During his 3-day trip, Yoon will also meet with ethnic Koreans in Vietnam and visit Korean-language educational institutes and industrial facilities there.
Yoon's trip to Vietnam is his first bilateral visit since taking office to a member state of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Principal Deputy Director Kim said. "This was at the invitation of President Thuong, who took office in March, and also reciprocates the state visit of then Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc late last year.
According to a report by Yonhap on June 20, 2023, Korea is ready to make the 2030 World Expo the best of all time if it succeeds in bringing the event to the southeastern city of Busan, which was stated by President Yoon, highlighting Korea’s plans to "give back" to the international community what she gained from the world through continuously increasing cooperation between Korea and all the countries of the world.
Yoon made the promises during Korea's presentation at the 172nd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the international body in charge of overseeing the World Expo, where delegates from all 179 BIE member states gathered to review the competing bids before casting their votes in November.
Yoon said in fluent English at the Assembly on the outskirts of Paris, France, "The World Expo Busan will be a solutions platform addressing humanity's complex and urgent challenges," Then he listed war and conflict, the digital divide, and climate change among the urgent challenges facing humanity.
Yoon said: "The war 70 years ago brought Korea to ruin, but, thanks to the help from the International Community, Korea transformed herself into an economic powerhouse full of high-tech industries and innovative technologies. Now, Korea wishes to give back to the international community what it has received thus far from many countries around the world."
Yoon described Busan as a gateway to the EurAsian continent, a city of adventure and a city of the future, where the World Expo will create new business opportunities and South Korea's state-of-the-art digital technology will provide a "fantastic stage" for exchange.
Yoon also said that the ROK is carrying out 1,258 official development assistance projects with BIE member states and is committed to providing the largest-ever assistance package for more than 110 member states.
Yoon said, "Korea will lead in tackling humanity's challenges, and the World Expo Busan will also be a culture expo where cultural diversity is respected and everyone is treated equally.”
"It will be an expo where every nation can freely express its unique culture, tradition and skill," Yoon said.
President Yoon said, “The Republic of Korea has gained plenty of experience by hosting two Specialized Expos (such as the 1993 Daejeon Expo and the 2012 Yeosu Expo) and also the 1988 Summer Olympics Games, the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2018 Winter Olympics.
He said, “Korea is a qualified candidate, and we are fully investing in preparing for the Busan Expo. We will make it the best World Expo of all time."