Finalisation of the Revised Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea

The Ninth Meeting of the Regional Scientific and Technical Committee (RSTC) and Eighth Meeting of the Project Steering Committee were convened in Viet Nam from 20th-22nd August and 25th-26th August, respectively. Both committees gave careful consideration to: activities and achievements of the demonstration sites and pilot activities; the regional training programme; operation and maintenance of the project GIS and databases; and operational considerations for implementing the revised Strategic Action Programme. Important outcomes of the Project Steering Committee meeting include: approval of the final revised Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea (SAP); and agreement on the text for a Memorandum of Understanding among the countries bordering the South China Sea concerning co-ordination of actions undertaken to implement the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea. A tenth and final meeting of the RSTC was convened in Thailand from 17th-19th December to further consider the implementation of the  SAP and initial draft independent evaluation report. The reports of the meetings can be accessed here - 9th RTSC, 8th PSC, and 10th RSTC.