Public Lecture on The Lessons Learned from The European Integration and Their Implication in The East Asia Economic Integration Process

A lecture on the Lessons Learned from the European Integration and Their Implication in the East Asia Economic Integration Process was delivered to students by Seung-ho Kim, Director General of Bilateral Economic Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Plamen Ralchev from the International Relations Department presented the guest and expressed his confidence that the lecture would feature some important aspects in the European and East Asia countries development as well as the new dimensions in the cooperation of the Republic of Korea. 

The lecturer Seung-ho Kim (on the right) and Assoc. Prof. Plamen Ralchev

International relations are science for building up the peace between different countries and their people, pointed out Seung-ho Kim basing on his large experience as a diplomat. He made a parallel between the process of integration in Europe and Southeastern Asia and emphasized on the European Union motto “United in Diversity” and the necessity of compromises during the integration process. 

In the lecture room

The lecturer defined the European Union as an unprecedented pattern of unification in the history of the world. He examined the most important lessons which should be implicated in the integration process of countries in East Asia region. He pointed out the difficulties: the lack of confidence between the states, deficit of leaders inspiring the process of unification, etc. 

The students

Seung-ho Kim pointed out the most important directions for integration development in East Asia and outlined the three possible ways of implementing it: through a trade focused on the integration and building up the confidence between states in the region, through the coordination of economic and political activities on order of strengthening the confidence between the states and through the development of infrastructure. All these factors will also lead to the formation of silk road economic belts for making easier the relations between the countries and their integration in political, economic and cultural aspect, said the lecturer.