Video conference held during a visit to Brazil…Mr. Lee: “The San Francisco AI Declaration is a national commitment and an order for thorough follow-up measures.”

On the 26th (local time), President Lee Jae-myung, who is on a state visit to Brazil, called for swift follow-up measures to ensure that the diplomatic results of his artificial intelligence (AI) visit to San Francisco in the United States lead to domestic investment, job creation, and tangible improvements in the quality of life of the people.

President Lee, who presided over a video conference with senior aides and secretaries from Brasilia, the capital, said, “South Korea has now grown into a major world power, and our country stands at the forefront of the AI ​​revolution, a revolution that will mark a new turning point in human civilization.The San Francisco AI Declaration demonstrates our national commitment to making South Korea an irreplaceable leader in the AI ​​era.”

He continued, “Through large-scale supply and investment cooperation, we have elevated our collaboration with the world’s big tech companies to the level of an AI alliance, and strengthened our foundation for cooperation with leading venture capital firms.The government must do everything in its power to ensure that these achievements lead to further economic development for South Korea and substantial improvements in the lives of the people through thorough follow-up.We will do our best to lead the world not only in the field of AI, but also in other cutting-edge industries and science and technology fields.” culture. ”

During President Lee’s visit to San Francisco, he held a series of meetings with CEOs of big tech companies around the world and discussed expanding cooperation in memory supply, data centers, AI models, and physical AI based on South Korea’s semiconductor production capacity and investment in AI infrastructure. He also met with leading venture capitalists in Silicon Valley and proposed expanding South Korea-US relations from a security alliance to one focused on technology, innovation, and startups.

President Lee emphasized the significance of his first trip to South America since taking office, and also outlined plans to diversify South Korea’s diplomatic network and strengthen cooperation with the Global South. He said, “South America, which boasts a huge population and abundant resources, is one of the most important regions for expanding Japan’s diplomatic horizons. Through this visit, I hope to strengthen our diplomacy with the Global South and further solidify South Korea’s position and role as a core country in the international community.”

Regarding the recent improvement in major economic indicators, President Lee reiterated that the fruits of growth should not be concentrated in any particular group. He noted that the growth rate reached 3.7% in the second quarter and gross national income increased by 15.6%, commenting that “domestic consumption and capital investment have recovered in a well-balanced manner due to exports.” However, he pointed out, “Behind the positive economic indicators, there remain shadows such as sluggish employment among young people and high arrears rates at small and medium-sized enterprises.If the fruits of growth are concentrated only in certain groups or sectors, economic imbalances could deepen even further, and the hard-won economic recovery could easily be set back once again.”

President Lee appealed for companies to hire more young people and to continue lending to local businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises, using the saying, “In order for the entire room to remain warm, both the top and bottom of the room must be warm.” He also directed that fiscal, tax, and monetary policies be fully mobilized to implement the economic growth strategy for the second half of the year without delay.

President Lee also called for preemptive measures to address the possibility of a rise in international crude oil prices due to instability in the Middle East. “Given the possibility that oil price fluctuations will continue for some time, we need to minimize the impact on domestic prices,” he said. He instructed the government to continue the oil price cap and fuel tax reduction measures as long as possible, and to consider additional livelihood support measures if the situation worsens.

Particular attention was paid to providing continued support to truck and construction equipment drivers, farmers, fishermen, and gig workers, especially those who rely on diesel fuel. Referring to bid-rigging behavior in the oil industry, President Lee said, “It is essential that the relevant authorities thoroughly crack down on acts that disrupt the market, such as corner buying and bid-rigging, not only for oil but also for other important daily necessities.”

Meanwhile, with the heat wave and the summer vacation season approaching, President Lee has instructed the administration to scrutinize both price and security measures. Addressing the challenges faced by people living in poor housing, young job seekers, gig workers, small business owners and others, he vowed: “Our government will always do everything we can to ensure that even if you are tired today, you can face tomorrow with hope that tomorrow will be better. I wish you all the best of luck next week. May you find strength even when the days are tough.”

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