Incheon: Agriculture ministers from South Korea, China, and Japan convened on Monday to revive a trilateral mechanism focused on agriculture and farming. This meeting, the first of its kind in seven years, took place in Incheon, near Seoul, marking a significant step in regional cooperation.
According to Anadolu Agency, the meeting was attended by Korean Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung, Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Shinjiro Koizumi, and Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun. The discussions were part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Food Security Ministerial Meeting, resuming after being suspended partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agenda covered six key areas: ensuring food security, responding to animal diseases, promoting sustainable farming, revitalizing rural areas, cooperating on the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, and enhancing international collaboration. In a joint statement issued post-meeting, the three nations emphasized the need for sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
Song Mi-ryung underscored the importance of the talks, expressing her hope for deeper, practical cooperation in the future. She also agreed to establish regular meetings to continue the dialogue. In a bilateral meeting with her Japanese counterpart, Song noted the potential for Korea and Japan to enhance agricultural competitiveness and sustainability through collaboration, given their similar systems and challenges.
Shinjiro Koizumi shared on X about the open exchange of views during the meeting. He also broached the subject of lifting import restrictions on Japanese marine products, a contentious issue stemming from South Korea's 2013 ban on seafood imports from regions near Fukushima. This ban was implemented following the release of radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean by Japan's damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. The meeting follows Japan's 2015 request for a World Trade Organization panel to formally adjudicate the issue concerning South Korea's import restrictions.