IISD's SUMMARY |
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19 December |
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The East Asian Seas Congress
Haikou, China | 12-16 December, 2006
Inaugural EAS Partnership Council Meeting
On Saturday, representatives of PEMSEA country partners, sponsoring
agencies, stakeholder partners and observers participated in the
inaugural meeting of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council, a new
regional mechanism established under the Haikou Partnership Agreement
and Partnership Operating Arrangements for the Implementation of the
SDS-SEA, signed Friday in Haikou by ministers from 11 countries in
the PEMSEA region.
After opening remarks, four letters of cooperation were signed
between PEMSEA and partner organizations, and the Partnership Operating
Arrangements for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development
Strategy for the Seas of East Asia were signed by 12 partner
organizations.
Participants then discussed organizational matters, adopted Council
Guidelines on the Conduct of Future Council Meetings, and heard
statements from partners and observers. After a partner dialogue,
discussion turned to the next meeting of the EAS Partnership Council,
with Indonesia offering to host the meeting, and Chua Thia-Eng
proposing it be held in the third quarter of 2007. Chair Li
Haiqing, China, declared the meeting closed at 12:45 pm.
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Saturday, 16 December
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Opening Ceremony
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Li Haiqing, Director General, Department of International Cooperation,
State Oceanic Administration, China, said that the signing of the Haikou
Partnership Agreement ushers in the implementation phase of the SDS-SEA,
noting that this should be applauded.
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Alfred Duda, GEF, said the GEF is encouraged to see that its investment
in PEMSEA efforts is showing long-term returns. He emphasized that
SDS-SEA commitments need progress on the ground by 2009 and highlighted
the Council's important role in monitoring progress in implementation.
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Jean-Claude Sainlos, IMO, emphasized countries' ownership of the EAS
Partnership Council and other partnership operating arrangements to
ensure the sustainability of the system through strengthened
decision-making and financial mechanisms.
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Amelia Dulce Supetran, UNDP, said the establishment of the Council
signifies the "coming of age" of SDS-SEA, and encouraged more
countries and stakeholders to join the partnership.
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Chua Thia-Eng, PEMSEA, provided an introduction to the EAS Partnership
Council.
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Stella Regina Bernad, PEMSEA, served as Master of Ceremonies.
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Signing Ceremony
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Letters of cooperation (LOC) were signed with the Coastal Management
Center (CMC), Conservation International (CI); Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission Regional Office for the Western Pacific
(IOC/WESTPAC), and UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea Project, with the latter three
being new PEMSEA partners.
Twelve stakeholder partners signed the Partnership Operating
Arrangements: CMC, CI, IOC/WESTPAC, Korea Environment Institute (KEI),
Korea Maritime Institute (KMI), Korea Ocean Research and Development
Institute (KORDI), Ocean Policy Research Foundation, Japan (OPRF), Oil
Spill Response Limited and East Asia Response Limited (OSRL/EARL),
Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UNEP Global Programme of Action for the
Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities
(UNEP/GPA), UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP), and UNDP/GEF Yellow Sea
Project.
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Rogelio Juliano, Coastal Management Center, and Chua Thia-Eng, PEMSEA,
after signing an LOC.
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Romeo Trono, Conservation International, and Chua Thia-Eng, PEMSEA, after
signing an LOC.
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Wenxi Zhu, IOC/WESTPAC, and Chua Thia-Eng, PEMSEA, after signing an LOC.
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Council Meeting
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Alam Syah Mapparessa, Indonesia, endorsed adoption of the Guidelines for
Future Council Meetings.
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John Pernetta, UNEP/GEF South China Sea Project, as an observer,
suggested adding paragraphs on consensus and quorum to ensure Council
meetings take valid decisions.
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Hazri bin Abu Hassan, Singapore, suggested textual changes
regarding the distribution of Council meetings' minutes to
participants for further amendments, if necessary.
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Suh Sung Yoon, Korea Environment Institute, stressed that marine issues
cannot be solved without participation of relevant stakeholders, such as
research institutions.
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Angelita Cunanan, UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme, said a partnership will
enable both PEMSEA and SGP to strengthen community-based approaches to
the conservation and protection of marine and coastal resources.
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Anjan Datta, UNEP/GPA Coordination Office, noted the links between
PEMSEA and the partnership elements of the Beijing Declaration from the
second GPA Intergovernmental Review meeting.
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Ayako Okubo, Ocean Policy Research Foundation, highlighted OPRF's
long-lasting cooperation with PEMSEA and advocated the "Securing the
Oceans" concept. She also announced the convening of an international
conference on ocean issues in 2007.
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Elaine Denning, NOAA, said the EAS Partnership Council is the key to
SDS-SEA implementation, pledging support to achieving the goals of the
partnership.
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Daniel Chan Kok Peng, OSRL/EARL, recognized the value of the EAS
Partnership Council and committed to work together with governments and
industries to contribute to the achievement of SDS-SEA goals.
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Around the EAS Partnership Council
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Participants in the inaugural meeting of the EAS Partnership Council
posed for a group photo.
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EAS Congress 2006 Bulletin IISD reporting team members: Sarantuyaa
Zandaryaa, writer, Mongolia; Dan Birchall, digital editor, United States;
Robynne Boyd, writer, United States; Andrew Brooke, writer, Australia;
Xenya Cherny Scanlon, team leader, Russia; Kunbao Xia, writer, China.
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