Roh wants to conclude FTA with U.S. ahead of Japan, China

President Roh Moo-hyun said Wednesday that his administration will speed up its free trade agreement (FTA) talks with the U.S. and conclude them ahead of Washington's possible similar deals with Tokyo or Beijing.

Giving a special lecture at a symposium marking the fourth anniversary of the Roh government, the president reconfirmed his determination to wrap up South Korea-U.S. FTA talks as soon as possible.

"There may be a lot of difficulties ahead in the FTA negotiations with the U.S. But I'm strongly determined to speed up the process," Roh said. "The South Korean people could be very embarrassed or feel slighted if Japan or China complete FTA deals with the U.S. ahead of South Korea. Competition for FTA deals is a worldwide trend."

Roh also voiced optimism over his government's push to take back wartime operational control of South Korean troops from the U.S. between 2009 and 2012. "The planned takeover of wartime operational control has been a very controversial issue, but it will be concluded smoothly."

Regarding domestic issues, the president said he will focus on a package of future policy tasks, such as government innovation, balanced regional development, social depolarization and overcoming the challenges of an aging society, all during the last year of his presidential tenure.

Roh then presented comprehensive national strategies to lift South Korea's per capita annual income to US$30,000 in the coming years. To help the nation reach the $30,000 income goal, the president stressed the importance of democracy, a market economy, renovation, an active opening, balanced regional development, social investments and peace in Northeast Asia.

"South Korea will run into different groups of competitors on its path to the era of $30,000 income. Advanced countries will now be our competitors," said the president.

"With a per capita income of $20,000, South Korea can be called an advanced country. But in terms of welfare finances, law observance and social cohesion, we lag far behind the other advanced countries."

South Korea's per capita gross domestic product is projected to reach $20,000 this year, 12 years after it entered the era of $10,000 per capita income in 1995.

Seoul, Jan. 31 (Yonhap News)