The 2021 PEMSEA Network of Local Governments for Sustainable Coastal Development (PNLG) Annual Forum was conducted on December 1, 2021 as part of the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2021 and the 2021 World Ocean Week in Xiamen through a blended online approach and face-to-face meeting for the PNLG members and observers in Cambodia.

The physical venue in Preah Sihanouk province, Cambodia.

With the theme "Networking for a New Ocean Decade of Hope", the 2021 PNLG Annual Forum was hosted by the Provincial Administration of Preah Sihanouk (Cambodia) and co-organized by the PNLG Secretariat and PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF).

The physical venue at the PNLG Secretariat in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province.

The annual event aimed to provide the PNLG members a platform to share information and experience, accelerate the realization of the United Nations' sustainable development goals, and promote the sustainable marine development in the East Asian Seas region.

A group photo of online and offline participants at the 2021 PNLG Annual Forum.

More than 100 participants attended the Forum, including delegates from over 30 PNLG member local governments across 9 countries (Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, RO Korea, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam), as well as experts from international organizations and institutes.

The Forum reviewed and adopted the PNLG Strategic Action Plan (SAP) (2022-2030), signed the Preah Sihanouk Declaration, elected new PNLG officers, and inducted Busan, RO Korea as the 52nd member local government of the PNLG.

As a result, PNLG's membership has grown to 52 regular members and three associate members, covering 10 countries in the East Asian Seas region.