(a) APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting
35. The Commission was informed by the Representative of Korea on the preparation for the APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting, to be convened in Seoul, Korea, from 22 to 26 April 2002. The Meeting would consider issues related to oceans, with the theme: Towards Sustainability of Marine and Coastal Resources in the Asia-Pacific region. It was also intended that a Declaration be adopted to contribute to the World Summit on Sustainable Development at Johannesburg in September 2002.
(b) ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference
36. The Secretary-General of SEAFDEC informed the Commission on the preparation for the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Conference on Food Security into the New Millennium: Fish for People. The Conference will be organized by ASEAN and SEAFDEC, in cooperation with FAO, in Bangkok, Thailand, from 19 to 24 November 2001. It is expected that the resolutions and five-year plan of action emanating from the Conference would provide frameworks for further action in Southeast Asia.
(c) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention
37. The Representative of Japan drew the attention of the delegations to the matter of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, pointing out that the area covered by the Convention would include waters of the several Members, and expressed its view that the Convention has problems and difficulties. Japan will continue discussion to improve the Convention with the coastal states concerned.
38. The Representative of Korea expressed Korea’s similar position with Japan on this matter.
