On 10 April 2026, Dr. Chua Thia Eng, an expert in coastal and ocean governance and the first Regional Programme Director for the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), visited Xiamen University Malaysia, where he delivered a knowledge-sharing session and participated in a book donation ceremony.

Dr. Chua Thia Eng and his recently published book donated to XMUM

In the talk titled A Life’s Journey in Coastal Governance: Navigating Towards the Sustainable Development Goals, Dr. Chua Thia Eng shared reflections on his personal and professional journey. From humble beginnings in Malaysia, he rose to become an internationally respected marine scientist and later joined the United Nations system, contributing through organisations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to advancing coastal and marine governance across the East Asian region.

Prof. Xue Xiongzhi, Dean of Fujian Institute for Sustainable Oceans at Xiamen University, also joined the session and shared how Dr. Chua Thia Eng, together with his colleagues from the United Nations, supported Xiamen in integrated coastal management from the 1990s, greatly contributing to the improvement of the city’s livability.

Dr. Chua Thia Eng delivering a talk on coastal governance and sustainable development at XMUM

A book donation ceremony was held subsequently, during which Dr. Chua Thia Eng donated 200 copies of his memoir, From Rural Beginnings to a United Nations Official: Challenges and Opportunities, providing learning resources for the university community.

Student representative receiving an autographed copy of the book during the book donation ceremony

Following the ceremony, Dr. Chua Thia Eng and Prof. Xue Xiongzhi were received by the President of XMUM, Prof. Wang Ruifang, and Vice President, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zhang Ying, where they discussed academic development, sustainability, and future collaboration opportunities.

Group photo