PEMSEA and UNESCO-IOC conducted a survey in December 2006 to assess East Asia’s capacity building needs in ocean and coastal governance. The survey was undertaken in support of building strategies to strengthen capacity to implement the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-EAS). Part of the initial results of the survey and the discussion on problems as well as future actions were presented and discussed during the EAS Congress in Haikou, Hainan in China in December 2006. PEMSEA and UNESCO, together with the Global Forum for Oceans, Coasts and Small Islands co-organized this Discussion Group consisting of experts from universities, research institutions and governments to initiate discussion on how best the capacity in ocean and coastal affairs could be further developed and strengthened.

The Thematic Workshop on Local Government Financing for Water, Sewage and Sanitation was conducted as part of the International Conference on Coastal and Ocean Governance of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2006, which was held in Haikou City, Hainan Province, PR China, on 12-16 December 2006. The thematic workshop addressed the financing issues of a sector that traditionally is nonprofitable — it is severely under-funded in East Asia, with some countries achieving only one percent coverage in sewerage and sanitation. The presentations focused on the challenges facing the sector, the conditions required to overcome the challenges and successful case studies that can be replicated.

The ICM Dialogue was organized as part of the Inaugural Meeting of the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) during the East Asian Seas Congress 2006, hosted by the State Oceanic Administration of China, Hainan Provincial Government and Haikou City Government. The Dialogue was held 14 December 2006 at the People’s Assembly Hall in Haikou City, Hainan Province, PR China. The ICM Dialogue was conducted in seven language groups, namely: Bahasa, Chinese, Filipino, Khmer, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese. Each Dialogue was attended by the representatives of local governments in 26 integrated coastal management (ICM) sites. Dr. Jihyun Lee of PEMSEA presented the objectives, mechanics and expected outputs of the ICM Dialogue. Key objectives of the ICM Dialogue were: 1. to provide opportunities for ICM sites to share their experiences, successes, failures and challenges in implementing ICM programs at the local level, without being constrained by language barriers; and 2. to explore future long-term strategies for increasing information exchange and cross-project capacity development among ICM sites having a common language.

The 2nd Ministerial Forum was conducted in Haikou City from 14 to 15 December 2006. The Forum consisted of three components. The first component took place in the People’s Assembly Hall on 14 December. This component involved reports on the outcomes of the various Thematic Workshops of the International Conference on Coastal and Ocean Governance, including recommendations for consideration by the Ministers and Senior Government Officials. The Forum’s Opening Ceremony followed. The second component was a session held in Huandao Tide Hotel on 15 December. The session’s objectives were to review mechanisms and arrangements for the implementation of the SDS-SEA, and to discuss related challenges, opportunities and responding strategies. The third component was the signing of the Haikou Partnership Agreement on the Implementation of SDS-SEA. The signing occurred on board a ship cruising along the coast of Haikou, also on 15 December. The Forum was attended by ministers and senior government officials from Cambodia, PR China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Timor-Leste and Vietnam; Thailand attended the Forum as an Observer Country; and some organizations participated as observers.

The first joint meeting of the Project Management Office (PMO) Managers/Staff with their corresponding UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) National Coordinators aimed to: 1. Review the objectives, goals and the processes of the SGP-PEMSEA Joint Communiqué; 2. Identify project direction for the next three years; and 3. Explore potential projects for implementation. The meeting was attended by 33 participants from the PMOs of the six participating countries including: Cambodia; Indonesia; Malaysia; Philippines; Thailand; and Vietnam. In addition, four UNDP/GEF/SGP National Coordinators from four countries — Cambodia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam were in attendance. The meeting was organized by PEMSEA and chaired by Ms. Angie Cunanan, National Coordinator of the UNDP GEF Small Grants Programme – Philippines.

The East Asian Seas (EAS) Youth Forum was organized as one of the special events of the EAS Congress 2006, convened to provide a venue for dynamic knowledge sharing and youth empowerment, increase the youth’s awareness and appreciation of the rich marine heritage of the EAS region, and enable young people to understand the dynamics of the coastal and marine management through interaction with experts, authorities and fellow young environmentalists. The First EAS Youth Forum was co-organized by the Coastal Management Center and PEMSEA, and participated by forty-five selected young leaders from ten participating countries.