Deputy Director General Nguyen Que Lam chaired the IGM25 Meeting - the first part from the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands. Photo: VASI

Attending the meeting with Deputy Director General Nguyen Que Lam at the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands were representatives of leaders of units of Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands.

The IGM is held every two years. Previously from November 2 to 5, 2019, Vietnam successfully hosted the 20th Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) International Conference in Ha Long city. The conference was attended by representatives of 7 member countries of COBSEA.

In 2021, Vietnam is the alternate host country for the IGM 25 – an event for member countries to exchange ideas for sustainable development and protection of the regional marine environment and coastal areas.

Delegates attending the 25th IGM Meeting - Part 1 at the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands. Photo: VASI

The Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) (IGM) is held every two years. Previously, from November 2 to November 5, 2009, Vietnam successfully hosted the 20th COBSEA Intergovernmental Meeting in Ha Long city. The meeting was attended by representatives of 7 member countries of COBSEA.

In 2021, Vietnam is the alternate host country for the 25th Intergovernmental Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (IGM 25). IGM 25 is an event for member countries to exchange ideas for sustainable development and protection of the marine environment and coastal areas of the region. Due to the complicated situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the IGM 25 Meeting was divided into two parts. The first part of the meeting is scheduled to take place on September 8 - September 9, 2021 in both online and face-to-face format. The second part of the meeting will be held directly in Vietnam in early 2022 (after the Covid-19 pandemic situation is under control).

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Lam called on participants to focus on discussing strategies to mobilize countries' participation in tackling marine plastic and waste pollution; sustainable production and consumption models of plastic products; decisive next steps, including establishing a close cooperative partnership through COBSEA to well implement the regional action plan on ocean waste.

He also expressed his gratitude to the effective coordination of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), its technical and financial support for member countries through the COBSEA in recent years.

COBSEA was established under the name of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) for the East Asian Seas Area in 1981. COBSEA now has 9 member countries, which are Cambodia, China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It was established to strengthen regional cooperation for the management of coastal and marine resources in the East Asian Seas region. As a member of COBSEA, Vietnam has achieved positive results from participating in its projects, including the Project "Reversing the trend of global environmental degradation in the East Sea and Gulf of Thailand"; Regional project on “Coastal erosion management in the context of sea-level rise”, Research project “Marine and coastal spatial planning”.

Organizing and attending the IGM 25 in the current situation is a meaningful activity. It demonstrates Vietnam's activeness and responsibility in sustainable development and protection of the regional marine environment and coastal areas, reducing ocean plastic waste, contributing to promoting commitments and effectively implementing the National Action Plan on ocean plastic waste management until 2030.

As the host country of the IGM 25, the second session of the conference is expected to be held in Vietnam in 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic is contained. The session will continue with discussions based on positive results in the adoption of strategic directions discussed at IGM 25’s first session.

Delegates representing COBSEA member countries and observers attending IGM 25 Part 1 online. Photo: VASI

During the two days of the online meeting, delegates from COBSEA member countries and observers shared and discussed the work done in the period 2019-2020. They also discussed the implementation of the Regional Action Plan on marine litter, solutions at various scales and levels ranging from regional technical guidance, technology, human resources, financial and also the way of cooperation between countries and organizations inside and outside the region.

Although the meeting was held online, it attracted more than 100 participants from COBSEA member countries and observers. During the discussion sessions, the delegates expressed their views in a constructive, frank and practical spirit, contributing to the overall results of the meeting. As the host country of IGM 25, Vietnam in general and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in particular are honored to have contributed to the success of the first IGM 25 Meeting and look forward to the second part of the meeting. The meeting will continue to be held directly in Vietnam in 2022 (after the Covid-19 pandemic situation is under control).

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