The First ad hoc Meeting of the Interim Commission Council (ICC) was held in Shangri-la Hotel, Qingdao, on July 15-16, 2019. The meeting was participated by 40 representatives from governments of the PR China, RO Korea, UNDP, UNOPS, NOWPAP, members of the Regional Working Groups (RWGs) from PR China and RO Korea and observers from academia and NGOs. The Meeting was Chaired by Mr. Jae-Ryoung OH, National Coordinator of YSLME II in RO Korea and co-chaired by Mr. Yafeng YANG, Division Director of International Cooperation, FIO, PR China.
The meeting recognized the significance of implementation of the projects considering the time remaining before termination in 2019 and the needs to consider the post-YSLME Project arrangements by sharing views on regional ocean governance mechanism between two countries. The meeting also reiterated the importance of cooperative commitments to achieve successful completion of the 2nd phase of the Project with the outcomes and achievements.
The meeting emphasized the roles of existing bilateral mechanisms related with marine science, environment and fisheries. and acknowledged the importance paid by the two countries which have contributed significantly to the sustainability of the YSLME. The meeting approved a second extension of the project up to December 31, 2020 for implementation of the project under its existing workplan until June 30, 2020, and terminal evaluation, audit and project closure before December 31, 2020.
The meeting agreed to have the next ICC meetings together with a bilateral meeting with respective two Ministries of both countries in Busan, RO Korea, in September, tentatively.
