- Exploring Ways for Future Cooperation among Arctic Research Institutions of Korea, China and Japan -

[Related National Policy Task】 No. 120: Emerging as a G7+ diplomatic power through contributions and active engagement in the international community

Ambassador for Polar Affairs Lee Taewoo at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the 12th Meeting of the North Pacific Arctic Research Community (NPARC)*, held in Mombetsu, Hokkaido, Japan, from September 2 to 4. At the meeting, Ambassador Lee delivered congratulatory remarks and held a bilateral meeting with Takahashi Katsuhiko, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, to exchange views on major Arctic issues and discuss ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the Arctic.

* The NPARC is a network of major Arctic-related research institutes and universities in Korea, China and Japan. Its meetings have been held annually in the three countries on a rotating basis since 2014.

   - The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), the Arctic Research Center (ARC) of Hokkaido University, and the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) serve as the NPARC secretariats of Korea, Japan and China, respectively.

In his congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Lee welcomed the 12th NPARC Meeting and underscored the importance of Arctic cooperation among Korea, China and Japan amid climate change and geopolitical shifts. He also noted that the NPARC has continued to develop as a platform for concrete and substantive cooperation across a wide range of areas. Ambassador Lee further emphasized that the Korean government is committed to a peaceful, sustainable and open Arctic and will continue to actively contribute to international, rules-based cooperation for a sustainable Arctic.

This year’s NPARC Meeting discussed Arctic cooperation of non-Arctic states and future cooperation among Korea, China and Japan, and brought together government officials and experts from industry, academia and research institutions, including the President of the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Japan’s Ambassador for Arctic Affairs, and the President of the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS). Participants gave presentations and exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Arctic policies, natural science, Arctic shipping routes and indigenous participation, as well as ways to advance international cooperation on Arctic issues.

As a responsible observer state of the Arctic Council, the Republic of Korea will continue its active contribution to international cooperation for peace and sustainable development of the Arctic.