Start of 2021 'Han-Jung Eoyeok Hyupsang' Discussions... Director-General Level Preparatory Talks from the 22nd

Preliminary Coordination of Opinions for the '20th Korea-China Fisheries Joint Committee' to be Held Around November This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo Sang-don] The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries will hold a director-level preparatory meeting for the 2021 fisheries negotiations between Korea and China via video conference from the 22nd to the 24th at the Mokpo West Sea Fisheries Management Unit. This meeting serves as a preliminary coordination of opinions for the '20th Korea-China Fisheries Joint Committee' scheduled for November this year.

On the Korean side, Choi Yong-seok, Director of Fisheries Resources Policy at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, will serve as the chief representative, accompanied by officials from the Korea Coast Guard and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the Chinese side, Liu Xinzhong, Deputy Director of the Fisheries and Fishery Management Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will be the chief representative, with officials from the China Coast Guard, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs attending.

Since the Korea-China Fisheries Agreement came into effect in 2001, the two countries have alternately held face-to-face Korea-China Fisheries Joint Committee meetings annually. However, this year, due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the meeting will be held via video conference instead.

During this director-level preparatory meeting, the two countries will discuss the number of fishing vessels and catch quotas in the 2021 Korea-China Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ), fishing procedures, review recent fishing activities of vessels from both countries, and check the implementation status of agreements from the '19th Korea-China Fisheries Joint Committee.'

They also plan to discuss measures to improve illegal fishing by Chinese vessels and jointly investigate marine biological resources in the fisheries agreement areas, including the Korea-China provisional measure zones, and explore ways to jointly manage these resources.

At this preparatory meeting, both countries will exchange mutual opinions on each agenda item and coordinate the contents of discussions at the second director-level preparatory meeting and the main session of the '20th Korea-China Fisheries Joint Committee' scheduled for around November this year, aiming to reach final agreements on key issues.

Director Choi stated, "At this director-level preparatory meeting, we will actively present our opinions to prevent illegal fishing by Chinese vessels and establish orderly fishing activities for vessels from both Korea and China within the Exclusive Economic Zones, striving to ensure smooth fishing operations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.