1. The 14th meeting on cooperation on fisheries issues between the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China took place on June 24 in a video conference format, bringing together (deputy director-general-level) officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and fisheries-related government agencies of the two countries.

° In the meeting, the two sides assessed the fisheries order in relevant waters, including the Yellow Sea, in the first half of the year 2020, reviewed the current situation regarding illegal fishing operations by Chinese fishing vessels, and discussed ways to eliminate such operations.  

° The two sides also discussed ways to work together in preventing fisheries-related incidents and accidents, responding to the depletion of their fisheries resources, and stepping up exchanges between relevant agencies of the two countries.

2. The two sides noted with appreciation that the two countries, which mark the 20^th anniversary of the conclusion of the Fisheries Agreement between Korea and China, have stably maintained the fisheries order pursuant to the Agreement, and agreed to further expand fisheries cooperation based on trust and cooperation built by the relevant authorities of the two countries.

3. The ROK side suggested that, amid the difficulty in conducting physical crackdowns due to COVID-19, the two sides work more closely together to eradicate illegal fishing by Chinese fishing vessels, including by stepping up joint patrols.

4. Making the best of the video format of the conference, the two sides were connected to the Five West Sea Islands Guard Unit, which exercises the jurisdiction over the waters surrounding Yeonpyeong-do, to hear about the situation on the ground and to have a question-and-answer session.

° Through a video screen, the two sides checked in real time the current situation regarding illegal fishing operations in the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the Yellow Sea as well as difficulties in crackdowns.

5. The Chinese side mentioned that no major fisheries-related incidents/accidents have occurred between the ROK and China since 2017, that illegal fishing operations by Chinese fishing boats are on the decrease, and that efforts continue to improve the fisheries order, including tightened crackdowns.

6. The two sides agreed to make joint efforts to improve the situation regarding illegal fishing by Chinese fishing vessels in the waters near the NLL in the Yellow Sea and the East Sea and to protect fisheries resources and conserve marine ecosystem by managing fisheries resources in the Provisional Measure Zone.

7. The two sides noted with appreciation that they did not cease holding the meeting on cooperation on fisheries issues even amid the COVID-19 situation and held the 14^th meeting in a video format, and agreed to continue actively utilizing the meeting, which is organized by the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, as a significant communication channel for discussions on ways for fisheries cooperation between the two countries.

8. The ROK delegation to the meeting was led by Deputy Director-General for Northeast Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Choi Hee-deok and comprised of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Korea Coast Guard, the Embassy in China, and the Consulates-General in Shanghai, Shenyang and Qingdao. The Chinese delegation was headed by Deputy Director-General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chen Xiongfeng and composed of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Bureau of Fisheries Management and Fishing Port Superintendence, the China Coast Guard, and the Embassy in the ROK.