S.Korea, China Reported to Sign Fisheries AgreementSouth Korea's Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries said on Wednesday that Seoul and Beijing have reached an agreement to regulate fishing in the waters between the two countries, according to Chinadaily.Kwon Byong-hyon, South Korean ambassador to China, and Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan will sign the agreement on Thursday, the ministry said in a statement. Seoul and Beijing initialled a bilateral fisheries agreement in November 1998 following almost five years of talks. But official signing of the agreement was delayed for 18 months, after China banned South Koreans from fishing in Yangtze River. "The new agreement will allow South Koreans to fish in some parts of Chinese Yangtze River for two years, after it goes into effect," an official at the Ministry said. He did not say why the Chinese were allowing fishing by South Koreans in the Yangtze. The South Korean government needs the National Assembly's approval for the bilateral agreement, he said. The agreement is expected to take effect starting next year, after the two countries finish subsequent negotiations on fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). |
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