Influenced by global climate change, the oceanic and atmospheric circulation in the South China Sea (SCS) has changed significantly in the past decades. Tropical cyclones, storm surges, internal waves, strong currents and other extreme meteorological and oceanic processes occur in a frequent way, leading to serious impacts on the marine environment and ecosystem of the SCS, as well as great casualties and economic losses for China and ASEAN Member States (AMS).

Better understanding and knowledge of the natural characteristics of the SCS will help China and AMS better utilize and protect the SCS in a sustainable and scientific way. However, the observational data in the region are far from sufficient, thus hindering the scientific study on the SCS substantially. This also remarkably impairs our ability to cope with climate change, protect the marine environment and ecology, and prevent and mitigate marine disasters. Great challenges are therefore posed to the socioeconomic development of the region.

The Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) provides that China and AMS may explore or undertake cooperative activities in certain areas, including marine scientific research. However, over the past years, cooperation in this important area has lagged behind, and specific projects were rarely conducted. Taken into consideration the growing impacts by various factors, it’s time for China and AMS to enhance effort and cooperation in promoting joint scientific research in the SCS.

To this end, China would like to organize a workshop and a training course in this regard under the ambit of the DOC. The workshop could serve as a platform for China and AMS to exchange the experience and best practices of marine scientific research on climate and ocean dynamics, biology and ecosystem, marine disasters and pollution in the SCS, paving the way for further cooperation in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The training course is expected to help different agencies and organizations of AMS improve the capabilities for marine scientific research , including that for the observation and awareness of the SCS.

Both the workshop and the training course will be organized by the First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources of China in 2021. The administrative arrangements and tentative agenda of the workshop are as follows, and the information regarding the training course will be circulated in due course.