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Six-party talks 'best way' for Koreas' peace: Bush

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-14 16:25

SEOUL: Former US President George W. Bush said here Wednesday that the six-party talks are "the best way" to bring peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Bush made the remark while delivering a keynote speech at the 10th World Knowledge Forum kicked off in Seoul Monday morning.

Bush said he is confident that the issues on the Korean Peninsula could finally be resolved peacefully under the six-party framework, "when China, (South) Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States speak in one voice, to say that there is a better way forward."

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In order to safeguard the regional peace and security, it is necessary for the United States to participate in Northeast Asian affairs bilaterally and multilaterally, Bush added.

On the other hand, Bush said as the center of the world shifts from the Atlantic to the Pacific, Asia will emerge as a "powerful" growth engine for the future world economic growth, and the Group of 20 will replace the Group of 8 to become the new leading force in the world economy.

The former US president also underscored that the countries must adhere to the principles of free economy and free markets, reduce government interference and improve transparency in the financial system.

With the theme of "One Asia, new economic order and recovery", the forum, sponsored by South Korea's economic news daily "Maeil Kyungje" and will last three days from October 13 to 15, attracted more than 250 politicians and economists from around 50 countries to discuss pressing economic issues in the world.