A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to organise the 5^th East Asian Seas Congress was jointly signed by representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Da Nang People’s Committee (PC), and the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).

The congress, which will take 'Global Targets - Local Benefits: Setting the Sustainable Development Agenda for the Seas of East Asia beyond 2015' as its theme, will take place in the city from 17 to 21 November 2015.

Under the agreement, the Ministry will work closely with the city’s PC and PEMSEA to organise an international conference and related activities before and after the congress.  In particular, a national steering committee will be established to ensure effective coordination between the relevant ministries and departments organising the congress and the 5^th Ministerial Forum which is the culminating event of the congress.

The municipal PC will be responsible for assisting the Ministry in preparation work and ensuring sufficient numbers of staff for the congress, including receptionists and volunteers.  In addition, the PC will make plans to advertise the tourism image of Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, within the framework of the event.

PEMSEA will develop the agenda of the congress and the Ministerial Forum subject to approval by the Ministry.  This organisation will also select people to chair the congress and deliver the key speeches, as well as invite international guests.  In addition, a list of participants at all the side events will be submitted to the Ministry ahead of the congress.

Since its launch in 2003, the triennial EAS Congress has served as a key platform for advancing commitment and cooperation towards achieving a shared vision of a sustainable East Asian Seas through implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA).