Kim appeals for closer ties with Europe

STRASBOURG, France － President Kim Dae-jung met with European Union Commission President Romano Prodi Tuesday, agreeing to schedule regular meetings between South Korea and the European Union, starting next September in Denmark.

Mr. Kim and Mr. Prodi said that the partnership between the two entities is based on the Korea Europe Framework Agreement, which went into effect in April. Mr. Prodi reaffirmed the EU's support for the South's reconciliation efforts toward North Korea.

Before the meeting, Mr. Kim became the first Asian to address the European Parliament. His theme was "World Peace and EU-ROK Cooperation," and he said, "When the construction of the 'Cyber Silk Road' and the 'Iron Silk Road' are both completed, Asia and Europe will practically become one landmass." He referred to plans to link South Korean and Russian railways through North Korea and to modernize and speed up computer networks.

Mr. Kim thanked the 15 European Union countries for their investment during South Korea's financial crisis. Also, identifying the digital divide as a source of of antagonism between the rich and poor within nations, he urged European Union and South Korea to work together to bridge it.

Mr. Kim's speech was the last stop of his 11-day European tour, which included an address to the Nobel Peace Prize's centennial symposium in Oslo. He returns home Wednesday.

by Kim Jin-kook