South Korean president Roh Moo Hyun said Saturday that he would spare no effort in supporting the 6 million overseas Koreans, saying that they are a source of national power.

In a congratulatory message for the opening ceremony of the 8th Overseas Korean Economic Network Convention in Toronto, President Roh said his participatory government is making concerted efforts to help solidify the ground for realizing his administration's stated goal of achieving 20,000 dollar per capita income.

He said that the goal could be attained by making the Korean peninsula the business hub of Northeast Asia, by decentralization of government, balanced development of the nation and by the cultivation of growth engines for the next generation.

The president also asked his overseas Korean compatriots to render active support for the development of their homeland and the further growth in exports.