Congratulation Address for the 30th Anniversary of the Korean Society of Oceanography: Briefing to China-Korea Joint Ocean Research Center

Dear President, Extunguished guest, Ladies and Gentleman. It is a great honor to be with you to celebrate the 30 anniversary of the Korean Society of Oceanography. First of all, let me on the behalf of the China Society of Oceanography extend our warm congratulations to the Korea Society of Oceanography. Since the diplomatic relationship between China and Korea was established, scientific and technical gressed rapidly. The most important milestone is the signing of the China-Korea agreement for science and technique cooperation in oceanography and followed by the establishment of the China-Korea Joint Ocean Research Center. Please let me take a minute to introduce the center here. During the visit of Korean president Kim to China, he suggested the establishment of a joint entity for marine research cooperation. It called an active response from Chinese side. In October, 1994 Authorities of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Korea and the State Oceanic Administration, China shouldered together and discussed the establishment of the China-Korea Joint Ocean Research Center. Then, less than one year of cooperative work, all the preparations were made, and the China-Korea Joint Ocean Research Center was established on May 12, 1995 in Qindgao. In the beginning of 1996 Korean deputy director functionary took his office, and the center made a good progress as follows. 1. Providing a chance to the oceanographers and oceanic institutes of the two nations keep in touch and creating atmosphere for specific cooperations. 2. Organizing, coordinating and handing the practised cooperation programs. Under the frame of the China-Korea agreement for marine science and technique, through a series of discussions of administrative authorities of the two countries the main subjects of the cooperation and their prior order were determined as follows. "Water circulation and material flux in the Yellow sea", the most basic question interested by the most of oceanographers, was started in May, 1996. At present, the first two cruises were successfully conducted and the cooperative research is in progress. As the director of the China-Korea Joint Ocean Research Center, I heartily hope that more programs on the Yellow Sea would start recently. Our center will do our best to provide oceanographers the best condition for the joint researches. 3. China-Korea cooperation should not limit to pure oceanographic programs, but should extend to the management of the scientific organizations. The latter, at least as a manager of an institute, is more important. Under KORDI's kind hospitality, the first chinese delegation consisted of the managements staff visited Korean in March, 1996. It would deepen mutual-understanding and friendship in administrative level. 4. The first scientific meeting which is organized by the center and named "A Symposium on the Yellow Sea Research" will be held on 11-13 November of this year in Qingdao. Marine science needs cooperation and exchange, Yellow Sea is our common subject, I hope all of you would attend this wonderful meeting.