The East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2018, organized by the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), was successfully held in Iloilo, Philippines, from November 27 to 30. More than 900 delegates from 15 countries and various international organizations attended the congress themed "Healthy Oceans, People and Economies". The congress consisted of three parts: international conference, ministerial forum, and youth forum. It also held events such as the Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) Exhibition, the PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) Forum, and the launching of regional State of Oceans and Coasts Reports. The First Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources (FIO, MNR) sent seven experts as well as representatives of the China-PEMSEA Center (CPC) and young students to the congress.

Inspector Zhang Zhi and Investigator Wang Antao at the Department of International Cooperation, MNR, attended the ministerial forum. Mr. Zhang delivered an important speech. He summarized China's efforts and achievements in implementing ICM over the past 25 years, and urged all countries to jointly tackle the challenges in sustainable development of oceans and coasts and contribute their wisdom and efforts to achieve regional sustainable development. On behalf of China, Mr. Zhang signed the 2018 Iloilo Declaration with the ministers of oceans of 10 other countries, aiming at safeguarding healthy oceans, people and economies together.

The international conference included a number of sessions under seven thematic tracks. Four of the sessions were co-organized by FIO and PEMSEA. They were (1) Enhancing Ways to Reducing Impact of Marine Debris in the East Asian Seas Region, (2) Marine Plastic Pollution: A Global Issue with National and Local Solutions, (3) Satellite Observation Data-based Systems for Improved Coastal and Marine Management: Moving from Research to Services, and (4) Ocean Energy – The Future of Blue Economy. FIO also sent seven scientists represented by Researcher Sun Chengjun to deliver academic reports at the sessions, introducing the management of marine litter in China, monitoring of microplastics, applications of ocean remote sensing in coastal management, ecological restoration and monitoring of coasts, development of ocean energy resources, and innovative practices in the development of blue economy. During the expert discussion, they also introduced China's advanced experience and achievements in integrated ocean and coastal management in recent years, including the marine inspector system, bay chief system, and natural resources and assets off-office auditing system, which received wide attention and high recognition from experts of all countries.

FIO and CPC set up booths in the ICM exhibition, showcasing FIO's recent achievements in integrated coastal management in the region where Ocean One is located and the achievements of CPC in promoting the implementation of the East Asian Sea Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS-SEA) and promoting integrated coastal zone management in China's coastal demonstration zone. Among them, FIO's Ocean Forecasting System (OFS) for environment forecast and early warning in Southeast Asia and advanced cases of local demonstration areas (Dongying Modern Fishery Demonstration Area, Lianyungang Bay Chief System Pilot, and ecological restoration projects in Jinzhou and Sanya) received high attention and recognition from many representatives.

Three young student representatives from FIO attended the youth forum, demonstrating the graceful bearing of China's future marine talents.

Coordinated by China-PEMSEA Center, talks were held between Dongying and other ICM demonstration areas and PEMSEA's leaders and experts during the congress. The leaders and experts involved suggested that the experience of China's excellent ICM demonstration areas should be systematically summarized and promoted through PEMSEA as a regional platform, providing reference for other countries with this regard.

Through the EAS Congress, the scholars of FIO introduced China's advanced achievements and experience in integrated ocean and coastal management in recent years to the East Asian Seas region and the world, consolidating FIO's leading position in regional marine research and ICM.