Inviting ambassadors and officials from embassies of
APEC member countries to a meeting and familiarization tour
We extend our warmest welcome to all the ambassadors and officials
who have honored us with your presence at the event,
for which we extended invitations to the embassies of APEC member countries in Korea.
Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude to the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea
for their invaluable assistance in both organizing this event and hosting our esteemed guests.
Incheon aspires to be the host city for the 2025 APEC Summit.
It gives me great pleasure to have the opportunity
to welcome you here today and introduce you to Incheon,
which is currently one of the most vibrant and dynamic cities in South Korea.
Incheon is firmly aligned with APEC's mission,
which aims to foster an Asia-Pacific community
by addressing economic, social, and cultural diversity
among Pacific Rim nations and promoting sustainable economic growth.
We wholeheartedly support the mission of establishing APEC
and are dedicated to championing its three core agendas:
creating an interconnected, innovative, and inclusive APEC region.
I would like to highlight that Incheon possesses the ideal geographical location,
a rich historical background, a strong sense of civil society, and a forward-looking vision,
making it well-suited to realize APEC's founding purpose and core agenda.
Incheon serves as a pivotal city for fostering interconnected regions
due to its strategic geographical location.
Within its borders, Incheon boasts a population of 24 million including Seoul,
making it the most populous metropolitan area in South Korea.
Moreover, the Incheon Free Economic Zone is home to globally renowned companies
in the fields of biotechnology, semiconductors, trade, finance, and information technology,
as well as international organizations such as the GCF.
Externally, Incheon serves as the gateway to the East Asia-Pacific region
via the West Sea and is a pivotal point in global shipping routes.
Incheon International Airport operates as a major hub airport in Northeast Asia,
connecting 58 countries worldwide, including those in Asia and the Pacific.
Incheon also shares a border with North Korea across the West Sea.
During the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, North Korean athletes participated
and joined hands with South Korean athletes and Incheon citizens.
This event symbolized Incheon's commitment to peace and sent a powerful message
about reconciliation and harmony between North and South Korea,
fostering a sense of peace not only within Asia but also across the world.
Incheon is a city defined by innovation.
Just three decades ago, the Songdo area that you visited was submerged under the sea.
Even Incheon International Airport, which you may have used,
was constructed by uniting two separate islands in the sea.
The Incheon Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Korea
and regarded as one of the world's three most beautiful bridges,
connects the airport to Songdo.
It stands as a symbol of innovation that embodies Incheon's vision
of connecting the city with the world.
Without Incheon's unwavering spirit of embracing innovation,
the creation of the Incheon Free Economic Zone,
now a critical growth driver for the Republic of Korea,
would have been a challenging endeavor.
Incheon is also a city that has embraced diversity and inclusivity,
rapidly overcoming social and cultural differences.
Its history of international trade dates back to 372 AD,
when maritime trade with China began.
In 1883, Incheon welcomed foreign cultures
through the establishment of ports and the creation of concessions by various countries.
Today, this rich history has transformed Incheon into an international city
where people from around the world coexist harmoniously.
Incheon holds a unique place in history as the starting point
for the first immigrants to this land 120 years ago.
These immigrants have since formed a vast network
of 7.5 million Korean-Americans worldwide.
In alignment with the Republic of Korea's government policy,
Incheon is set to establish the Overseas Koreans Agency,
extending a warm welcome to those 7.5 million Koreans.
This endeavor will usher in a new era for Incheon,
as it grows to a thriving city with a population of 10 million,
uniting 3 million Incheon citizens with their global counterparts.
President Yoon Seok-yeol stressed,
"Establishing the Overseas Koreans Agency in Incheon
signifies Incheon's status as a global business hub."
As President Yoon pointed out, the Korean-American network
plays a pivotal role in substantial business exchanges,
fostering close connections with APEC member countries.
With this in mind, I am confident that if Incheon hosts the 2025 APEC Summit,
it will receive comprehensive support from the Korean government.
Incheon stands as the most symbolic and ideal location
to manifest the message of cooperation for stability
and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, a core pursuit of APEC.
Incheon is fully prepared with transportation,
lodging, and convention facility infrastructure
to host the APEC summit, as well as security, safety, and citizen aspirations.
Regrettably, today's time constraints prevent us
from showcasing all of Incheon's myriad charms
that make it the best choice for the 2025 APEC Summit.
However, we hope that you will enjoy this well-prepared program
to the fullest and that it will be a meaningful time for exchange and cooperation.
We humbly ask for your enduring interest and unwavering support
as Incheon continues its journey to become the host city for the APEC Summit.
Thank you.
