Korea in Focus

Страница: 9/14

The Republic of Korea is increasing its official development assistance to developing countries proportionate to its economic strength. In this, efforts are being made to combine such assistance with private Korean investment, with the aim of maximizing its effect, while developing two-way trade and other economic ties on a long-term basis.

Economic ties with the Commonwealth of Independent States and East European countries will continue to focus on commercial applications of their high technologies and other forms of technological cooperation and joint development of natural resources.

Korea Trade with and Investment in Various Countries and Regions

Country or Region

Trade (US$ bil.)

Investment (US$ mil.)

1987

1993

1987

1993

U.S.A.

27.1 (30.7)

36.1 (21.7)

165.3 (40.3)

380 (30.3)

Japan

22.1 (25.0)

31.6 (19.0)

1.4 (0.3)

6 (0.5)

EU

11.2 (12.7)

19.6 (11.8)

6.5 (1.6)

157 (12.5)

China

1.7 (1.9)

9.1 (5.5)

6.0 (1.5)

260 (20.7)

Southeast Asia

8.9 (10.1)

27.8 (16.7)

130.5 (31.8)

179 (14.3)

Note: Figures in parenthesis represent percentage of the total.

Active Participation in Multilateral Economic Forums

Korea has actively participated in virtually all major multilateral forums. During the Uruguay Round of trade talks, finally concluded in December 1993, Korea tried to make conrtibutions commensurate with its capabilities as a major world trading power, and play a mediating role between the developed and developing countries. Korea introduced various proposals in the Uruguay Round negotiations to reduce tariffs, eliminate non-tariff barriers, liberalize the textile trade, improve safeguards and reduce subsidies and countervailing duties.

The Republic of Korea is actively participating in global efforts to protect the environment, a crucial task facing all of humanity. In recent years it has joined the Convention on Climate Change, the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, also called the London Dumping Convention, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Реферат опубликован: 27/02/2008