Oceans minister vows to enhance cooperation with China over maritime affairs

Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan speaks during a press conference at a restaurant in Sejong, Monday. Joint Press Corps

SEJONG ― Korea seeks continuous cooperation with China in maritime affairs, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan said Monday, while explaining the purpose of his attendance at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, Oct. 18.

Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the minister was among the representatives from 130 countries, who participated in the forum celebrating the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s key policy initiative.

Diplomatic sources regarded the government’s dispatch of Cho as part of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s efforts to normalize relations with China. However, opponents pointed out the fact that Yoon sent a ministerial-level official to the event, unlike the previous Moon Jae-in administration, which enabled Rep. Park Byeong-seug’s meeting with Xi during the first round of the forum in 2017 and which sent a deputy prime minister to the second round in 2019.

China's President Xi Jinping, left, shakes hands with Russia's President Vladimir Putin during the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 18. AFP-Yonhap

Cho was wary of reading too much into his recent visit to China, saying that he does not think that he represented the government during the event.

"I delivered a congratulatory speech during a thematic forum on maritime cooperation and asked for support of Busan’s bid to host the World Expo 2030,” the minister told reporters at a restaurant in Sejong. “Korea and China will hold a forum on marine science in November, so I asked the Chinese government to strengthen bilateral relations.”

During his visit, he could not meet with his Chinese counterpart, the minister of natural resources. Instead, he met with the vice natural resources minister to ask for China’s support and participation in the U.N. Ocean Conference.

“When I met with the Korean ambassador to China, I told him that he should ask the Chinese government to support the transportation of more passengers on car ferries sailing between Korea and China,” Cho said. “I also told him that we should make efforts to export live fish to China.”

In response to a question about the effect of government policies toward the release of radioactive wastewater from Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, he answered that seafood consumption has increased at supermarkets, traditional markets and small restaurants.

Regarding the privatization of HMM, he said that the government will thoroughly review each bidder’s financial soundness, management ability and understanding of the shipping industry, to ensure that the shipping company is sold to a buyer that can manage its sustainable growth.