The WESTPAC Advisory Group Meeting 2018 was held in Manila, the Philippines, 26-28 September 2018.

The meeting focused on discussing the WESTPAC strategy, activities and capacities in coming period such as:
1. Brief review of on-going WESTPAC programs/projects since the 11th WESTPAC Session, (21-23 April 2017, Qingdao, China) and the implementation of relevant suggestion from the 11th Session
2. Finalization of a set of guidelines for improving WESTPAC programme delivery, efficiency and effectiveness
3. Preparations for the 11th WESTPAC International Marine Science Conference (Indonesia, 2020)
4. Progress on the development of WESTPAC Research Priority Plan
5. WESTPAC and the 2nd International Indian Ocean Expedition (IIOE-2)
6. Progress on the Working Group on the Feasibility Study on Joint Scientific Expedition in SCS

Brainstorming on new areas for WESTPAC’s future possible actions were also discussed in the meeting:
• Follow-up to the 51th Session of IOC Executive Council (3-6 July 2018), particularly the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030)
• Preparations for the Twelfth WESTPAC Intergovernmental Session (tentatively Mar-April 2019)
• Date and Venue for the next Advisory Group meeting
• Other matters