Village Connect
Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) has kicked off preparations for the 7th East Asian Seas (EAS) Ministerial Forum during the 13th EAS Partnership Council (PC) Meeting held last July. The triennial gathering of ministers and senior government officials from PEMSEA member countries serves as a platform for policy dialogue and strategic direction setting in support of the region’s common strategy and the fulfillment of international commitments related to sustainable development. The Ministerial Forum will be held on December 2 during the virtual 2021 East Asian Seas Congress hosted by the Royal Government of Cambodia.
During PEMSEA’s 13th EAS PC Meeting, council members recognized that the impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic calls for a stronger regional partnership as well as transformative solutions to “build back better.” Thus, the 2021 EAS Congress and Ministerial Forum are deemed as crucial mechanisms to further advance and scale up actions on Blue Economy and sustainable development in the region.
One of the expected highlights of the Ministerial Forum is the signing of the 7th EAS Ministerial Declaration which is envisioned to endorse the PEMSEA Roadmap to 2030 in support of the Ocean Decade and other key international and regional commitments on sustainable development. The 13th PC reviewed the first draft of the Ministerial Declaration and approved the workplan and schedule to facilitate the consultation and consensus-building process among PEMSEA Partners for the finalization and approval of the Declaration.
As Chair and host of the EAS Congress and Ministerial Forum, Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) assured the council members of their strong support and shared their recent efforts and plans to ensure the smooth preparation for the upcoming events. The council expressed its appreciation towards the efforts of the MOE and the PRF in line with the preparations for the 7th EAS Ministerial Forum.
PEMSEA has conducted six Ministerial Forums to date: Putrajaya, Malaysia (2003); Haikou City, PR China (2006); Manila, Philippines (2009); Changwon, RO Korea (2012); Da Nang, Viet Nam (2015); and Iloilo, Philippines (2018). Each had milestone Ministerial Declarations that continue to push for a sustainable resources system for the Seas of East Asia.
For more information on the 2021 East Asian Seas Congress, visit: https://eascongress2021.pemsea.org/
