CTC Hosts Special Dinner to Support ASEAN-China-UNDP Symposium on Localising Global Goals

On the evening of May 20, 2025, Coral Triangle Center (CTC) welcomed distinguished guests to a special dinner reception held in support of the 7th ASEAN-China-UNDP Symposium on Localising the Global Goals: A Strategy for SDGs Implementation. The event, hosted at the CTC Center for Marine Conservation in Bali, brought together 76 participants from across Southeast Asia and beyond.

 

Organized in close collaboration with the Ministry of Village and Development of Disadvantaged Regions of Indonesia, the ASEAN Secretariat, the China Mission to ASEAN, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the symposium underscored the importance of regional cooperation in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—with a particular emphasis on village development and food security.

 

As part of the dinner program, CTC shone a spotlight on SDG 14 – Life Below Water, drawing attention to the critical link between healthy marine ecosystems and the resilience of coastal and island communities. Through engaging presentations and dialogues, guests explored how marine conservation efforts can serve as powerful tools for climate adaptation and sustainable development.

 

The evening commenced with a guided tour of CTC’s Exhibition Hall, where guests had the opportunity to learn about the center’s education, outreach, and training initiatives. This was followed by a captivating Wayang Samudera performance—a modern ocean-themed shadow puppet performance that weaves together tradition and environmental storytelling to highlight marine conservation issues in the Coral Triangle region.

 

Among the high-level attendees were Mr. Samsul Widodo, Mr. Cece Yusuf, and Mr. Fahad Attamimi from the Ministry of Village and Development of Disadvantaged Regions, along with representatives from the China Mission for ASEAN, UNDP, and members of CTC’s Board of Supervisors, including Dr. Suseno Sukoyono.

 

The dinner not only offered a platform to celebrate partnerships and progress but also reaffirmed CTC’s growing role as a regional hub for marine conservation. Through its active engagement with multistakeholder initiatives like the ASEAN-China-UNDP Symposium, CTC continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing the 2030 Agenda and building inclusive, climate-resilient communities across the Coral Triangle and more.

 

Writer: Kayla Azzahra

Photos: Kayla Azzahra/CTC, Adam Putra/CTC