Promoting Regional Cooperation on Marine Environmental Management in the South China Sea

The Fourth Meeting of the Regional Task Force on Legal Matters was successfully convened in Shantou, China, 24th – 27th April 2006. In addition to the Members of the Task Force, the meeting was attended by observers from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Environmental Protection Administration, the Vice Mayor and Vice Secretary General of the People’s Government of Shantou City, and the Director of the Forestry Bureau responsible for mangrove management. Click here to access the report of the meeting.

During this meeting, the Task Force extensively discussed (a) legal matters with relevance to the South China Sea Project, (b) the review of instruments and mechanisms for regional cooperation, (c) national government officers’ perspectives regarding the need for, and possible alternative mechanisms for regional cooperation, and (d) contributions to the Regional Strategic Action Programme. The final draft report has since been distributed to all Task Force members and will be made available on UNEPSCS.org in the near future. The meeting was featured on TV news in China.

Following this meeting, informal national workshops will be convened to seek government officials’ perspectives regarding possible instruments and mechanisms for regional cooperation. The Fifth Meeting of the RTF-L will be convened in Batam, Indonesia from 18th-21st September 2006 to formulate recommendations regarding the promotion of regional environmental cooperation in the South China Sea. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information.