Welcome Speech for the 4th Incheon International Maritime Forum
Welcome to everyone joining us in Incheon, a city renowned for international trade and marine logistics,
endowed with a breathtaking natural environment that epitomizes marine ecology.
A city adorned with 168 enchanting islands, each a jewel contributing to the realm of marine tourism.
Our deepest appreciation goes to everyone who has invested immense efforts
to facilitate the triumphant execution of the 4th Incheon International Marine Forum.
We express our special gratitude to Mr. Jo Seung-Hwan, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries;
Mr. Lee Kyung-Kyu, President of the Incheon Port Authority;
and Mr. Sung Ki-Hong, President of Yonhap News Agency, among distinguished others.
We extend a heartfelt welcome to our keynote speaker, Mr. Tim Marshall,
along with our esteemed global experts who will spearhead various sessions and discussions.
Additionally, we warmly welcome all those joining us online from around the world.
Today and tomorrow, through the Incheon International Marine Forum,
we will engage in enriching exchanges on a spectrum of topics,
including marine logistics, marine tourism, climate change, marine ecology, and marine humanities.
Incheon has a rich maritime international trade history on the peninsula, stretching over 1600 years.
Since 372 AD, Incheon has been a hub of vibrant maritime
international trade activities with the Shandong Peninsula region of China.
Since opening its ports in 1883, Incheon has been a pivotal center of international trade,
embodying and undergoing extensive transformations
across all sectors of society, including politics, economics, and culture.
Incheon has flourished into a premier international city in South Korea and Northeast Asia,
graciously opening its doors to the global community
through Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port.
Incheon is home to some of the world's few remaining vast tidal flats, along with 168 treasured islands.
These tidal flats in the waters off Incheon have nurtured small yet
extraordinarily resilient life forms, teeming with vitality for thousands of years.
The islands of Incheon, each holding a myriad of stories,
are remarkable showcases of rich ecological and geological values.
Incheon city is diligently working to preserve these precious marine environments
while simultaneously nurturing them to become appealing tourist destinations.
Now, we must welcome new waves of change.
In this maritime realm, refreshed after overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic,
it is crucial to analyze changes in maritime environments and global trade prospects.
Discussions should be held to strategize the revitalization of the maritime tourism industry
and to contemplate carbon reduction and eco-friendly maritime policies
in our efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
The ocean should not be a battleground for sovereign disputes but rather a connector,
a shared space where humanity can coexist.
Through the Incheon International Marine Forum,
we hope the ocean becomes a grand pathway that connects us all, symbolizing a bond of hope.
Boundaries will dissolve, and crises will be overcome.
With Incheon at the center, we aim to foster a network of cooperation and mutual prosperity
among maritime cities, encouraging collaborative solutions, empathy, and actionable discussions.
In alignment with the slogan of the 4th Incheon International Marine Forum,
"Reopening of Oceans, New Waves of Change,"
Incheon, along with all of you, will together embrace the new tides of transformation.
Thank you.
