Foreign Minister Michael Frendo had a meeting with South Korean Vice-Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Eun Lee, on Wednesday at the ministry in Valletta, at which the Korean delegation sought Malta’s support for the candidature of the Korean government to organise an International Recognised Exhibition, in 2012, in the city of Yeosu, with the theme: The Living Ocean and Coast: Diversity of Resources and Sustainable Activities.

Apart from the city of Yeosu, the Moroccan city of Tangiers and the Polish city of Wroclaw are also official candidates to host the 2012 International Exhibition. Voting to select the 2012 host city will be held during the general assembly of the International Bureau of Exhibitions in December 2007.

The chosen EXPO 2012 city will host the second Inter-national Exhibition of the 21st century, following the city of Zaragoza, which is currently preparing for an exhibition with the theme Water and Sustainable Development.

The International Exhibi-tions Bureau embodies the commitment of 98 member states to lead, promote and foster Universal Exhibitions for the benefit of citizens of the international community. Universal Exhibitions, or World Fairs, constitute a unique global gathering for education, participation and development. Malta acceded to the International Exhibitions Bureau Conven-tion on 15 March 2000.

At their meeting, Dr Frendo and Mr Eun also had an opportunity to discuss other issues of common interest to both Malta and South Korea, specifically the International Maritime Organisation and the International Maritime Law Institute.