ICAO Secretary General Mr. Juan Carlos Salazar (left) launched his recent mission to the Republic of Korea (ROK) by joining the ROK’s Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Mr. Hyeong Ouk NOH in delivering welcoming remarks to the 2022 ICAO Legal Seminar.
The Seminar was hosted by the ROK and opened in Seoul on 12 April 2022.
Accompanied throughout by ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Director Mr. Tao Ma, the Secretary General’s mission to Seoul comprised bilateral meetings with Minister Noh and with Mr. HAM Sangwook, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the ROK’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
These meetings provided Mr. Salazar with an opportunity to commend the ROK for the continuous progression of its aviation sector, and to extend his gratitude for the ROK’s contributions of expertise and resources to ICAO’s activities and objectives, noting in particular the significance of its contributions to ICAO’s No Country Left Behind initiative, training and other educational programs.
Mr. Salazar highlighted that the ROK is well positioned to lead a sustainable and resilient recovery for the international air transport secto, noting its high level of compliance with ICAO safety, security and sustainability standards, and the alignment of its “re-opening” strategy with international best practices.
The Secretary General encouraged the government of the ROK to capitalize on this position by heightening its cooperation with and through ICAO, including by supporting ICAO’s work towards a 41st Assembly agreement on a long-term global aspirational goal (LTAG) for international civil aviation CO2 emission reductions, and by implementing the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
Concluding on 14 April, the 2022 ICAO Legal Seminar enabled over 900 participants representing 114 States to exchange knowledge and experiences on new and emerging issues affecting civil aviation. It furthermore encouraged momentum towards the ratification and implementation of related international air law instruments by States. Topics included the recovery of international civil aviation following the COVID-19 pandemic, the application of health measures on board aircraft in relation to managing unruly and disruptive behaviour, pilotless aircraft, cyber-attacks against civil aviation, climate change, support to the families of aircraft accident victims, and the settlement of disputes between States under the Chicago Convention.
While in Seoul, the Secretary General also delivered congratulatory remarks at the ROK’s High-Level Forum on Aviation Policy and Strategy on “Tasks for Recovery of the Aviation Industry beyond the Pandemic.”
Highlighting the outcomes from the ICAO High-level Conference on COVID-19, the Secretary General emphasized the importance of the close collaboration between the civil aviation authorities and public health sectors to ensure effective and efficient operations as States increasingly open-up their borders to international air travel.
At this occasion, Mr. Tao Ma provided a keynote speech on Regional Cooperation to Support Aviation Recovery, emphasizing the regional implementation of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations and guidance. A round table session on the “COVID-19 Pandemic - Difficulties and Recovery Policy” was convened at the event, during which States and industry partners shared the experiences and lessons learned as they recover from the pandemic. The session also afforded the opportunity to exchange views on the post-pandemic policies, expected challenges, and the way forward from the industry and International Organizations’ perspectives.
