Joint Press Release of the First Trilateral High-Level Dialogue on the Arctic among the Republic of Korea, Japan, and the People’s Republic of China which took place in Seoul in Korea earlier today, April. 28th.
- Mr. Kim Chan-Woo, Ambassador for Arctic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Ms. Shiraishi Kazuko, Ambassador in charge of Arctic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and Mr. Ma Xinmin, Deputy Director-General for the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, convened in Seoul to join the First Trilateral High-Level Dialogue on the Arctic on April 28 2016.
- The three HoDs welcomed that the First Trilateral High-Level Dialogue on the Arctic was held in Seoul, Korea, and expected that the Dialogue would serve as a platform to seek ways to strengthen the three countries’ cooperation over the Arctic. The three HoDs also expected that the three countries would develop their Arctic cooperation in various areas including science and research, pursuant to the mandate their Leaders entrusted in the Joint Declaration for Peace and Cooperation in Northeast Asia on November 1, 2015.
- The three HoDs presented each country’s Arctic policies and activities in such areas as international cooperation, scientific research, and business opportunities, sharing the view that the Arctic is the region of challenges and opportunities.
- The three HoDs discussed the guiding principles of the trilateral Arctic cooperation and shared the view that the three countries should continue their commitments of contribution to the Arctic Council and enhance their cooperation within various international fora. The three HoDs also explored the possibilities to cooperate in such areas as scientific research.
- The three HoDs shared the view that with regard to the specific Arctic cooperation, scientific research is among the most promising areas for their joint activities and trilateral cooperative activities in this area need to be encouraged. The three HoDs decided to keep identifying cooperative projects where the three countries can work together in a creative manner.
- The three HoDs reaffirmed that the Trilateral High-Level Dialogue on the Arctic is an important arrangement for the three countries to keep the momentum of their continued cooperation over the Arctic. The three HoDs decided to make efforts to properly integrate these outcomes to the implementation progresses of the follow-up measures to the 6th Trilateral Summit on November 1, 2015. The three HoDs decided to report the discussions of this Dialogue to the Arctic Council through appropriate channels.
- Japan proposed to host the Second Trilateral High-Level Dialogue on the Arctic, and the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea welcomed the offer.