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

Better understanding and more knowledge of the natural characteristics of the SCS will help China and AMS to better utilize and protect the SCS in a sustainable and scientific way. However, due to the limitation of ocean observation and research capabilities, our substantial understanding of the SCS is far from sufficient. This remarkably impairs our ability to deal with climate change, protect the marine environment and ecology, and prevent and mitigate marine disasters. Socioeconomic development of the region has therefore been posed with great challenges.

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 relevant areas, including marine scientific research. In this regard, one workshop (The 1^st Workshop) and three training courses (The 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd Training Courses) on marine scientific research in the SCS have been successfully held since 2021.

The workshop and the training courses were welcomed by participants from China and AMS. More than 170 scientists and government officials attended the workshop with a total of 30 presentations made to share experience and best practices in various fields of marine scientific research. More than 350 trainees from AMS participated in the past three Training Courses, of which more than 330 were trained in virtual format and 20 in physical format. Over 30 senior scientists and experts from China and AMS gave lectures and provided professional training for the trainees.

To further promote cooperation in marine scientific research in the SCS, China would like to hold the 2nd Workshop online on 26-27 September 2023 under the ambit of implementation of the DOC. The workshop will focus on the following topics: climate and marine environmental change, marine biodiversity and ecosystem protection, marine forecasting system and disaster mitigation, and future cooperation on marine scientific research. The administrative arrangements and tentative program of the workshop are as follows.