At the opening session (Source: VNA) SiemReap (VNA) – The 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME15), the 15th ASEAN Meetingon TransboundaryHaze Pollution and relevant meetings kicked off in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on October 8.
The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and EnvironmentVo Tuan Nhan, attended the events.
During the meetings, ministers of ASEAN member nations and representatives fromthe three partner countries of the group – China, Japan and the Republic ofKorea (RoK) (ASEAN 3) - discussed a series of issues, including cross-border haze pollutionwhich is seriously affecting many countries.
In his opening speech, Cambodian Minister of Environment Sam Samal affirmed through AMME15and relevant events, ASEAN 3 member countries will enhance discussion andsharing of initiatives, as well as review their cooperation in areas related tothe regional environment in order to realise goals in the seven strategicpriorities on environment and seek new solutions to further promote partnershipin the field.
As scheduled, after the events, ASEAN countries will consider and approverecommendations from the 30th ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting onEnvironment (July 8-12, 2019), which is considered to be ASEAN's jointstatement at the 25th sessionof the Conferenceof the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP25) inChile from December 2-13; and nominate ASEAN heritage parks and the ASEANStrategic Plan on Environment (ASPEN).
Regarding cross-border haze pollution, spokesman of Cambodian Ministryof Environment Neth Pheaktra confirmed that this is a matter of special concernto delegates to the AMME15, andthat they will discuss orientations to create a common mechanism forcontrolling the issue.
Cambodia will propose the establishment of joint forces of ASEAN membercountries to support each other in dealing with forest fires occurring in anyASEAN country, thus minimising haze pollution.
CambodianDeputy Prime Minister and Economic and Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth underlinedthe importance of promoting intra-group cooperation in addressing the problem.
He proposed a number of measures to combat climate change and protect the environmentsuch as strengthening management and increasing resources in dealing withforest fires and cross-border pollution caused by smog.
It is necessary to expand cooperation between ASEAN and its partners in copingwith sea debris, attach importance to the people's role in addressing climatechange, and raise public awareness of the work in each country and the wholeregion, the official added./.
VNA
