PNLG 2014 Held in Malaysia

PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) 2014 was held in Sepang, Malaysia from September 8 to 10, about 120 representatives from countries of China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and East Timor as well as PEMSEA officers attended the meeting. Deputy Inspector Liang Fengkui of the Department of International Cooperation of the State Oceanic Administration led a 21-member delegation, which included officials from the Oceans and Fisheries Bureau of Xiamen (PNLG secretariat), the Oceans and Fisheries Bureau of Dongying, Fangchenggang City, Beihai City, and the Oceans and Fisheries Bureau of Quanzhou, for the meeting. 

With the theme "Involvement in Integrated Coastal Management (ICM)", the PNLG 2014 was composed by the assembly, teleological seminars, and field research. 

The conference was co-hosted by its Chair, Governor Prak Sihara of Sihanouk and Vice Chair, Mayor Yang Tongzhu of Dongying City. PNLG Secretariat first of all delivered a report on PNLG 2013 annual meeting and the decision and implementation of the 5th PNLG Executive Commission and the other on work by the PNLG Secretariat. The two reports were followed by the signing of PNLG Charter by representatives of Beihai, China and Sepang, Malaysia, which meant that the two cities gained their PNLG membership, raising total members to 37. Representatives of PEMSEA office introduced the implementation of PNLG Strategic Action Plan and Dongying Declaration, and talked about steps for the established targets. The flag handover, from the Selangor State government of Malaysia to Da-Nang, Vietnam, which was to be the host of the next PNLG annual meeting and the East Asia Seas Congress 2015, marked a successful close of the assembly. 

On September 9, a technological seminar with the theme of "Policies and Practices of Integrated Maritime and Coastal Management" was chaired by PNLG Secretary Pan Shijian. The seminar first of all invited Dr. Cai Chengying, honorary chairperson of Partnership for East Asia Seas Committee, to deliver a keynote speech on "Experience, Practice and Lessons Learnt in Integrated Coastal Management", followed by cases of integrated management shared by representatives from local governments of China, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia. Officials from Dongying City introduced its achievements and experience of ICM application. In the group discussions representatives talked about successful practices of local governments in promoting sustainable development and blue economy as well as the obstacles to popularizing the experience. They also discussed and came up with advice on establishing sharing platforms for knowledge, products and service in the endeavors to promote ICM. Representatives of the State Oceanic Administration introduced China's achievements of both its 20 years integrated maritime and coastal management and its promotion of ICM, briefed on its experience of guiding for local governments for ICM application, and made suggestions for PNLG's future development. As a member of PNLG, representatives of the First Institute of Oceanography talked about the technological requirements from local governments and the obstacles in the applying process of ICM. 

Participants visited projects of coastal industries in Sepang and Kuala Selangor Natural Park.