The PEMSEA Network of Local Governments Annual Forum held in Xiamen provides a learning platform for coastal and marine management among its members. LIN YUYANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

As a highlight event held during the 2024 East Asian Seas Congress and World Ocean Week in Xiamen — two major international ocean-themed events held among coastal cities — the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development Annual Forum taking place from Nov 13 to Nov 15 provided a learning chance for PNLG members to address challenges besetting their coastal and marine management and development.

Approximately 100 participants, including representatives from the 21 PNLG regular members and its five associate members, representatives from the PEMSEA Network of Learning Centers, as well as renowned experts and scholars in the marine field, attended the event. They came from countries including Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, known as PEMSEA, is a coordinating mechanism for the sustainable development of coastal and marine areas in the East Asian Seas region. Under the organization of the PNLG Secretariat, the PNLG Annual Forum has been held for 19 times.

This year's forum lasted for three days, featuring the 2024 PNLG General Assembly and the 2024 PNLGPNLC Joint Learning Forum, along with field trips organized for the participants.

Facilitating exchanges

On Thursday, the 2024 PNLGPNLC Joint Learning Forum was launched to facilitate information exchanges and experience sharing among the members of the two regional organizations.

Representatives from PNLG and PNLC shared experiences on topics such as marine ecosystem restoration, enhancing climate resilience, sustainable protection of coastal ecosystems, mangrove conservation, science-informed decision-making and effective climate change adaptation measures. Cai Feng, director-general of Third Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, delivered a keynote speech on Beach Protection and Nourishment Enhancing Coastal Resilience, introducing beach nourishment development in China and sharing the beach nourishment practice launched in Xiamen to the participants.

During the open discussion session, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on mechanisms to enhance PNLG-PNLC networking and the application of tools and approaches, enhancing planning and supporting the decision-making of local governments, documenting good practices and lessons learned for replication and providing a platform for knowledge sharing and joint planning.

Future cooperation

At the PNLG General Assembly held on Thursday afternoon, speeches were delivered by officials from the Department of International Cooperation of China's Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen city government and PNLG and representatives from the East Asian Seas Partnership Council.

The PNLG Secretariat and the PNLC Secretariat signed the Letter of Cooperation, while a member of PNLG — the Government of Tangerang Regency of Indonesia — signed the Letter of Intent with PNLC, a consensus having been reached on future cooperation.

Zhou Lumin, member of the Xiamen Marine Experts Group and former director of the Xiamen Integrated Coastal Management Project Management Office, delivered a keynote speech to share his insights into Xiamen's practices in integrated coastal management.

Zhou said that a marine ecological civilization is one of the key goals of integrated coastal management, essential for developing the marine economy and achieving sustainable coastal development. Xiamen is a city nurtured by the sea. With the ocean as its advantage, it has rich marine resources but a limited sea area, facing high development intensity and fragile marine carrying capacity and ecosystems.

Since 1994, Xiamen has collaborated with organizations such as PEMSEA to implement integrated coastal management projects and established mechanisms for integrated coastal coordination. Over the past 30 years, Xiamen has gradually formed a comprehensive pattern of ecological protection and restoration, which has been applied from the sea area to the river basin and then to the entire city region, fostering harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Its experience in integrated coastal management has been widely promoted internationally as the "Xiamen Model".

During the meeting, the PNLG Secretariat also reported on the work progress and plan of the PNLG. Two new members joined the PNLG this year — Yancheng city in East China's Jiangsu province and the Dongying Huanhai Institute of Marine Conservation and Development, increasing the total number of PNLG regular members to 54, along with its five associate members.

Chua Thia-Eng, chair emeritus of the East Asian Seas Partnership Council, presented ICM certification to Changyi in East China's Shandong province, which obtained the ICM Code Level-1 Certification and to Quanzhou in East China's Fujian province, which received the ICM Code Level-2 Certification. Le Quang Nam, president of PNLG, presented a plaque of appreciation to the host city of this year's Annual Forum — Xiamen. The representative from Xiamen then handed over the PNLG flag to the representative from Jakarta province, Indonesia, the host local government of the 2025 PNLG Annual Forum.

Field trips

On Friday, the participants visited the Hairun Container Terminal in Xiamen. In the Future Exhibition Hall, they were briefed on the overview and history of the Xiamen Port and learned about the achievements in the construction of the smart port and the green port and the future trends of port development.

Subsequently, the participants visited the Yundang Academy Square, where they learned about the ecological restoration and integrated development practices of Yundang Lake, a tranquil lake transformed from a polluted one.

Officially founded in December 2006, the PNLG has made major contributions to the sustainable development of the East Asian Seas region through various forums and meetings. It also serves as an effective voice of the local governments.

Over the past 18 years, PNLG has grown rapidly, with its membership increasing from the initial 18 to 59 now, covering 10 countries in East Asia. It is playing a crucial role in marine and coastal governance in the East Asian Seas region.

Since becoming a demonstration site for integrated coastal management in 1994, Xiamen has pioneered the practice of integrated coastal management. Through its successful practices in integrated coastal management, Xiamen has presented a model for China and the East Asian Seas region, becoming the permanent host of the PNLG Secretariat.

In 2019, PEMSEA conferred Xiamen city government with its Leadership Award in recognition of its valuable contribution. This year, the Xiamen city government was awarded the Achievement Award for Best Practice in Marine Ecological Conservation and Restoration.

Participants in the forum on a field trip in Hairun Container Terminal in Xiamen. LIN YUYANG/FOR CHINA DAILY

 liyou@chinadaily.com.cn