[Unofficial Translation] 

Your Excellency Prime Minister Modi,

I am deeply grateful to you for your hard work in hosting the G20 Summit.

This morning, I learned of the earthquake that hit Morocco. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences on the tremendous loss of life.

The Republic of Korea will provide all possible support as needed.

Your Excellencies, representatives from international organizations,

The rules-based international order has been the foundation from which to promote humanity’s peace and prosperity since the end of World War II.

The international community has promoted global peace and economic growth through the United Nations and multilateral trade rules.

However, we are currently facing an unprecedented polycrisis and challenges, including pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, climate change and the war in Ukraine.

To build a free, peaceful and prosperous future, we must defend and strengthen the rules-based international order based on a spirit of solidarity and cooperation.

Universally accepted rules must be safeguarded staunchly while making other rules of the past better suited to the changing times by addressing their shortcomings. We also need to establish new rules as required in the future.

First, without exception, universally valid principles and rules must continue to be respected.

Since the end of World War II, prohibiting the use of force has been established as a principle of international law by the international community.

To defend this principle, above all else, the war in Ukraine must come to an end, and peace must be restored there as early as possible.

Last July, I visited Kyiv and announced the “Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative.”

The Republic of Korea will continue to implement a comprehensive support program that encompasses the fields of security, humanitarian aid and reconstruction in solidarity with the international community.

Next year, we plan to provide an additional US$300 million in support through international financial organizations and grants for development cooperation, including humanitarian aid.

We will prepare a mid-to-long term support package worth more than US$2 billion to actively support Ukraine’s reconstruction.

In addition, rules and institutions created in the past must be improved and amended to meet the needs of the times. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have made contributions to the common prosperity of humanity by serving as a catalyst for poverty eradication and sustainable development.

However, the role of MDBs must be expanded to address the challenges of the times, including overcoming the climate crisis, strengthening food and energy security and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The mission and vision of MDBs needs re-defining, and efforts to expedite reforms to increase their financial resources should be accelerated.

As the Co-chair of the G20 International Financial Architecture Working Group, the Republic of Korea will actively spearhead discussions on expanding MDBs’ financing capacity and restructuring the debt of low-income countries.

Lastly, we must prepare new rules that will open up the future in line with the advancement of science and technology. Now is the era of deepening digitalization. With the advancement of new digital technologies such as AI and Big Data, human life is becoming more enriched, and constraints of time and space are disappearing.

However, at the same time, the digital divide, cybercrime and fake news are posing threats to the freedom of global citizens.

We must establish new digital norms so that global citizens should be guaranteed equitable access to digital technology and, furthermore, digital technology can expand the freedom of global citizens.

At the Sorbonne university in Paris in June, I proposed the establishment of an international organization to set norms for a digital order, including those related to AI.

Moreover, the Republic of Korea will announce a Digital Bill of Rights at the end of this month and declare access to digital resources and services as a universal human right.

We will lay out national standards and principles to resolve new issues in the digital age.

With the G20 at the forefront of the world’s digital economy, it must now demonstrate leadership in the process of establishing new digital norms.

In this regard, I welcome the consensus reached at this G20 Summit to work together to establish global AI governance.

As a leader in the field of digital technology, the Republic of Korea will continue to play a leading role in promoting international discussions to establish the principles of digital ethics and related norms.

Thank you.