(VOVworld) – The 5^th East Asian Seas’ Ministerial Forum opened on Friday as part of the fifth East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress in the central coastal city of Da Nang. In his address, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang said that the forum is aimed at setting the sustainable development agenda for the seas of East Asia beyond 2015. The forum concretizes global sustainable development goals and support efforts to boost sustainable development of East Asia Seas.

Following their discussions on national sustainable development strategies, initiatives, and action plans to implement the 2015 East Asia Seas’ Sustainable Development Strategy and post-2015 goals, ministers signed the 5^th Da Nang agreement. Under the agreement, related countries pledged to enhance ocean management at regional and national level based on each nation’s priorities, targets, and capabilities. The agreement stressed on the importance of the preservation and sustainable use of ocean, seas, and marine resources. It approved the updated regional Strategy on Sea and Coastal Areas, highlighting the importance of climate change mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while adapting and mitigating social, economic, and ecological impacts caused by human activities and harsh weather.