PREAH SIHANOUK: Cambodia is proudly hosting the 7th East Asia Summit Conference on Maritime Security Cooperation 2021 in Preah Sihanouk province. The summit is being held in the kingdom under the theme "Creating a New Decade for the Well-Being of Human, Ocean and Economy" starting Wednesday until Thursday.

The conference will mainly focus on development, conservation, sustainable marine management, green economy management and scientific research. It also includes the ministerial forum to map out marine conservation and development, taking into account the well-being of the oceans, people and economy from 2021 to 2030, as well as the action planning for the sub-national administrations of the member countries.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Environment Neth Pheaktra says that the main objectives of the Maritime Conference include sharing lessons learned through experience, monitoring past work progress and expanding the implementation of the strategy as well as executing at the regional, national and sub-national levels. Second is to stablish and re-establish existing management mechanisms and promote new opportunities for regional partnerships through innovative technologies, investment and financing to sustain the coastal and marine environment.

 Lastly, identifying a clear roadmap for solutions to maritime issues for the coming decade, in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Ocean Science, Agenda 2030, UN Framework Convention on Climate change and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, as well as related frameworks. He has added that the East Asia Sea Summit is a source of pride for Cambodia to host this important conference, which aims to review the work plan that has been approved in the past and the right direction plan.

This is Cambodia's first time to host the event since it became a member of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia in 1994.