THE LITTLE ANGELS CHILDREN'S FOLK BALLET OF KOREA

It gives me great pleasure to welcome The Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea on the Australian leg of their sixteen-nation tour.

Australia and Korea have an abiding friendship, forged during the Korean War of 1950–53 when Australia became the second country to commit troops to aid the Republic of Korea. As we mark the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War in 2010, it is timely to commemorate all those who so honourably fought to defend the freedom of Koreans. Australia contributed 10 warships, three battalions of the Royal Australian Regiment and the No. 77 Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force to the United Nations-led effort. In total, 17,500 members of the Australian Defence Force fought gallantly. The 339 Australian personnel who lost their lives and the 1,584 Australian casualties were part of a much broader tragedy that we remember today as we commemorate their contribution.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the Republic of Korea in 2011, I would like to reaffirm the relationship between our two nations and the promise it holds. Over the last half-century, we have become the firmest of friends. Our people-to-people ties—spanning business, cultural, academic and family links—are strong and growing. Reflecting our longstanding commitment to peace and stability, we have worked together in multinational military operations in Afghanistan, East Timor and Iraq. We are negotiating a free trade agreement and, as founding members of the G20, cooperate closely on global economic matters. The wide-ranging Joint Statement on Enhanced Global and Security Cooperation, which President Lee Myung-bak and I issued in March 2009, marked a further leap forward to a new phase of closer cooperation.

I commend the Korean War 60th Anniversary Memorial Committee and The Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea for honouring those who fought so valiantly in the Korean War. I have no doubt the Australian leg of this tour will be a remarkable success and that the Ballet will bring comfort to our Korean War veterans.

As we warmly welcome the performance of the Little Angels Children's Folk Ballet of Korea, let us celebrate the enduring ties and common values that bind our nations and people in a relationship that is special and meaningful in so many ways.


The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister of Australia