Dong-a Ilbo hosts conference on Northeast Asian peace

The 21 Century Peace Foundation and the Institute 21 for Peace Studies, affiliated with the vernacular daily, the Dong-a Ilbo, hosted an international conference at the President Hotel in central Seoul Friday to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the newspaper`s foundation. Held on the theme of ``Regional Peace and Regional Cooperation in Northeast Asia,`` the conference brought together 18 experts from South Korea, China and Japan.

At the meeting, the experts discussed ways to boost peace and cooperation on the Korean peninsula and in Northeast Asia. Particularly at four subdivision meetings, the experts held in-depth discussions about U.S. policies on Northeast Asia since the inauguration of the Bush administration and the strategies of South and North Korea, China and Japan to cope with them.

The first session covered the subject, ``The Bush Administration and Regional Peace in Northeast Asia”; the second ``Problems of Regional Cooperation in North East Asia``; the third ``Regional Peace and Cooperation and The Korean Peninsula``; and the Closing Session ``Conditions and Issues for Regional Peace and Cooperation.``

Program

09:45 - 10:00    Opening Remarks
Guest: Nahm, Choong-Gu (Director, Peace 21 for Peace Studies)

10:00 - 12:00    First Session
The Bush Administration and Regional Peace in Northeast Asia
Moderator: Han, Seung-joo (Korea University, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs)

Subject 1: "The Bush Administration and US-Chinese Relations"
    Presenter: Wu, Xinbo (Fudan University)
    Discussant: Chung, Jae-Ho (Seoul National University)
Subject 2: “The Bush Administration and US-Japan Relations
    Presenter: Soeya, Yoshihide (Keio University)
    Discussant: Kim, Ho-Seop (Chung-Ang University)
Subject 3: "The Bush Administration and North-South Korean Relations"
    Presenter: Ki-jung Kim (Yonsei University)
    Discussant: Kimiya, Tadashi (Tokyo University)

12:00 - 13:00    Luncheon
Hosted by Kim, Hak-joon (President, The Dong-a Ilbo)

13:00 - 15:00    Second Session
Problems of Regional Cooperation in North East Asia
Moderator: Koo, Young-rok (Emeritus, Seoul National University)

Subject 1: "China's Position on Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Asia"
    Presenter: Zhang, Xiaoming (Peking University)
Discussant: Chung, Jong-Wook (Ajoo University, Former Ambassador to China)
Subject 2: :"Japan's Position on Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Asia"
    Presenter: Yamamoto, Yoshinobu (Tokyo University)
    Discussant: Kim, Young-jak (Kookmin University)
Subject 3: "Two Koreas and Multilateral Cooperation in Northeast Asia"
    Presenter: Yoon, Young-kwan (Seoul National University)
    Discussant: Seo, Jin-young (Korean University)

15:00 - 15:15    Coffee Break

15:15 - 17:15    Third Session
Regional Peace and Cooperation and The Korean Peninsula
Moderator: Yamamoto, Yoshinobu (Tokyo University)

Subject 1: "Regional Peace and Cooperation and Two Koreas"
    Presenter: Kimiya, Tadashi (Tokyo University)
    Discussant: Chang, Dal-jung (Seoul National University)
Subject 2: "South Korean Roles in Regional Peace and Cooperation"
    Presenter: Lee, Seo-hang (Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security)
    Discussant: Wu, Xinbo (Fudan University)
Subject 3: "North Korean Roles in Regional Peace and Cooperation"
    Presenter: Yoo, Ho-yeol (Korea University)
    Discussant: Choi, Young-jin (Deputy Minister for Policy Planning and International Organizations)

17:15 - 17:20    Break

17:20 - 18:00    Closing Session
Roundtable: Conditions and Issues for Regional Peace and Cooperation
Moderator: Kim, Young-jak (Kookmin University)
Discussant: Soeya, Yoshihide (Keio University)—Summary of First Session
    Zhang, Xiaoming (Peking University)—Summary of Second Session
    Lee, Seo-hang (Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security)—Summary of Third Session

18:30 - 20:00    Dinner (Invited Only)
Informal Dinner (at a Korean Restaurant)