Asia-Pacific

S Korean president stresses green growth to global journal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-19 17:21

SEOUL: South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak wrote an article on green growth for a prominent international journal in its latest issue, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said on Tuesday.

In a contribution titled "Shifting Paradigms: The Road to Global Green Growth" to the Global Asia, the East Asia Foundation' s journal on international affairs, Lee, who announced last year green growth will be the country's next national vision, emphasized that such growth involves paradigm changes in the society and people's lifestyle, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Lee said in the article that green growth should be based on a political will to lead the paradigm shift, the public's understanding of the changes and technological support, while what Lee calls "green entrepreneurship" and global partnership are needed for shifting paradigms, according to the office.

Lee also introduced the country's efforts to harmonize growth and environmental protection, such as a president-led committee on green growth and a five-year blueprint for green development which would earmark two percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) annually, Cheong Wa Dae said.

Lee pledged in the article South Korea would serve as a bridge between advanced economies and the developing world in leading the initiative, according to the presidential office.