Manila, Philippines — The Governments of the Republic of the Republic of the Philippines and the People's Republic of China signed late last year the Joint Action Plan for Strategic Cooperation between the two countries which provides, among others, that "the two sides shall continue to participate in regional/international initiatives/collaboration to promote sustainable development such as the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)."

 

Pyongyang, DPR Korea — Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, PEMSEA Executive Director, visited Pyongyang, DPR Korea, upon the invitation of the Director General of the General Bureau for Cooperation with International Organizations (GBCIO) of the Ministry of Foreign Trade on 15-19 June 2010. The purpose of the visit was to review DPR Korea's progress and achievements with regards to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).

 

Quezon City, Philippines — During the East Asian Seas Congress 2009, seven workshops under the "Coastal and Ocean Governance" underscored the importance of coasts and oceans as life-support systems while covering central- and local- level initiatives related to the development and implementation of ocean and coastal governance and the economic contribution of marine activities in East Asia.

 

Singapore — Even as a small island city state, with much of the island less than 15 meters above sea level, Singapore recognizes the benefits of an integrated approach to coastal management and has developed an ICM Strategy and Implementation Plan, along the lines of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) Framework developed by PEMSEA. Dr.

Vientiane, Lao PDR — On 15 June 2010, Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh signed Decree No: 293 on the Establishment and Activities of the River Basin Committee, a decree that puts into place an intergovernmental and multisectoral body to sustainably manage the priority river basins and sub-basins of the country.

Quezon City, Philippines — During the East Asian Seas Congress 2009, four workshops under the theme "Natural and Manmade Hazard Prevention and Management," on 23 to 25 November in Manila, Philippines.

 

Seoul, RO Korea — The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) announced in June 2010 that five marine and environment related projects in PEMSEA countries, namely Indonesia, Philippines and Viet Nam, have been selected for funding. The announcement was issued after months-long solicitation of the project proposals in the three countries and consequent evaluation. The selected projects are all relevant to the objectives of the SDS-SEA and contribute to its implementation.

Dandong, PR China — Following the signing of the Agreement Recognizing PEMSEA's International Legal Personality in November 2009, the 3rd East Asian Seas Partnership Council Meeting focused its attention on the principles, key features and required processes of PEMSEA's transformation from a project-based operating arrangement to a self-sustaining international organization.

 

Quezon City, Philippines — As part of the Professional Upgrading Program for 2010, PEMSEA welcomes Dr. Le Xuan Tuan and Mr. Nguyen Cong Minh of Viet Nam to the PEMSEA Resource Facility.

 

Quezon City, Philippines — During the East Asian Seas Congress 2009, four workshops under the theme "Natural and Manmade Hazard Prevention and Management," on 23 to 25 November in Manila, Philippines.