European Union

Qu Dongyu, Vice-Minister of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, and Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries metin Beijing on 14^th October 2015 and exchanged views in reinforcing their concrete cooperation on fisheries.

Vice Minister Qu Dongyu gave positive appraisal to the cooperation on fisheries between the EU and China and pointed out that there are great potential for such cooperation.

Both sides expressed satisfaction on the decision to establish an EU – China working Group on IUU fishing issues and agreed to hold the first Working Group Meeting on Fight Against IUU fishing in the first half of 2016 and to constantly reinforce the bilateral cooperation in fisheries by utilising the existing bilateral and multilateral platforms in a win-win situation.

Commissioner Vella presented the reformed EU Common Fisheries Policy and introduced the related policy objectives. Commissioner Vella also emphasised that the EU is also promoting the same standards and principles for responsible management at the global scale and in particular in Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

Vice Minister Qu Dongyu and Commissioner Vella agreed that the fight against IUU fishing is one of the most important priorities at both bilateral and multilateral level and underlined the need for all countries to fulfil their international obligations as flag, coastal, port or market States. Both sides reaffirmed their will to enhance better science, enforcement, and governance of the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).