Ministerial Forum
A key component of PEMSEA regional mechanism is the Ministerial Forum where ministers of the Country Partners meet and engage in policy dialogue, and is being held every three years as part of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress. Reports from the East Asian Seas Partnership Council and the recommendation from the EAS Congress are presented to the ministers. The Ministerial Forum provides direction on key concerns on regional cooperation while the ministers express the fulfillment of their international commitments related to sustainable development of coastal and marine areas in East Asia.
Putrajaya, Malaysia (2003)
This Ministerial Forum adopted the Putrajaya Declaration of Regional Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Seas of East Asia. This declaration formally adopts the Sustainable Development of Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) as a common platform for regional cooperation, and as a framework for policy and programme development and implementation, at the national and local level.
Haikou City, People’s Republic of China (2006)
The Haikou Partnership Agreement on the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia was signed during this Forum, held within the second EAS Congress. This regional agreement establishes the coordinating and operating mechanisms for implementing the SDS-SEA. It contains an annex on Partnership Operating Arrangements that spells out the roles and responsibilities of the Country and non-Country Partners, as well as the make-up and functions of the different components of the region.
Manila, Philippines (2009)
The Third Ministerial Forum of the EAS Congress witnessed the signing of the Manila Declaration on Strengthening the Implementation of Integrated Coastal Management for Sustainable Development and Climate Change Adaptation. This declaration highlights the participating countries’ commitment to strengthen and accelerate the implementation of ICM. It also recognizes the recent progress made in PEMSEA's transformation into a self-sustained regional mechanism for the SDS-SEA implementation.
Changwon, Republic of Korea (2012)
Ten of the Ministers present at the forum signed the Changwon Declaration toward an Ocean-based Blue Economy: Moving Ahead with the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia. This formalizes the region’s support for the implementation of the Rio+20 Outcomes embodied in "The Future We Want," and other relevant international and regional commitments related to coasts and oceans. The Changwon Declaration highlights the adoption of a blue economy approach and the Five-Year SDS-SEA Regional Implementation Plan.
Da Nang, Viet Nam (2015)
Ministers and heads of delegations from 11 countries of the East Asian Seas (EAS) signed the Da Nang Compact at the Fifth Ministerial Forum. The Compact is the region’s support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other relevant international and regional commitments related to coasts and oceans. It revisits the regional coastal and marine strategy, the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA), and lays down the post-2015 Strategic Targets of PEMSEA.
Iloilo, Philippines (2018)
The Iloilo Ministerial Declaration was signed by Ministers of PEMSEA country partners on 29 November 2018 during the Sixth Ministerial Forum at the Sixth East Asian Seas Congress in Iloilo City, Philippines.
Preah Sihanouk, Cambodia (2021)
The Preah Sihanouk Ministerial Declaration was signed by senior government officials of PEMSEA’s country partners. One integral part of this Declaration is the endorsement of the formulation of the PEMSEA Roadmap to 2030, which aims to combine the values, principles, and key achievements that were carefully cultivated and replicated through years of transforming the EAS Partnership from a regional marine pollution project into a leading regional collaborative mechanism and the available opportunities that will enable the Partnership to maintain its relevance and fit for purpose in the region.