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The Summit for Democracy, aimed at strengthening worldwide democratic capacity, kicks off in Seoul on the 18th. As the conference led by U.S. President Joe Biden to foster unity among democratic forces, this third Summit hosted solely by Korea is the first since the United States.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the “Third Summit for Democracy,” consisting of ministerial meetings, civil society events, and a video summit conference, will be held in Seoul over the next three days. On the first day, the 18th, a ministerial meeting will be held on the theme of “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Technology and Democracy” after the opening ceremony.
Tony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state who leads the U.S. delegation, along with officials from over 30 countries at the ministerial and vice ministerial level, will speak at the meeting. This will be followed by an expert roundtable on the same topic, which about 20 speakers from home and abroad will attend.
They will discuss digital threats to the democratic process, technological innovation in a democratic society that respects human rights, and the role of a democratic society in a free online space. After attending the conference, Secretary Blinken is expected to have a luncheon meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae Yul.
The meeting is expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation of democracy through shared values such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, as well as ways to strengthen the U.S.-Korea alliance and mutual interests in the Korean Peninsula and global political situation. In particular, the US and South Korea are expected to discuss their common concerns over the recent military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. As Putin has been re-elected, a North Korea-Russia summit is scheduled in Pyongyang, and the two countries are expected to take related follow-up measures.
Previously, Minister Cho and Secretary Blinken met at the South Korea-US-Japan Foreign Ministers’ meeting held on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on the 22nd of last month (local time), and also had the South Korea-US Foreign Ministerial talk in Washington D.C. on the 28th of the same month. This marks the third face-to-face consultation between the two countries foreign ministers in the past month.
After completing his schedule in Korea, Secretary Blinken is expected to head to the Philippines. In addition to the U.S.-Philippines talk, the foreign media reported that a trilateral foreign ministerial talk between the U.S., the Philippines, and Japan is also expected to be held. The territorial dispute between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea is expected to be discussed.
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