Photo: VGP/Nhat BacPM Nguyen Tan Dung has noted that climate change, environmental pollution, food and water source security have become regional and global issues, thus each nation should both develop the economy and protect the environment effectively, as well as consider environmental protection as a target and a fundamental factor of sustainable development.
PM Dung made the statement at an opening ceremony of the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment (AMME 13), the 14th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Environment and other related meetings in Ha Noi on October 28.
PM Dung stressed the importance of 2015 in establishing the ASEAN Community on the three main pillars of politics-security, economics and socio-culture and markingViet Nam'stwo-decade membership of ASEAN.
The leader reaffirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to joining efforts to enhance regional cooperation proactively and responsibly, contributing to building a united ASEAN with an increasing position in the region and the world.
He also affirmed that all ASEAN members always attach importance to environmental protection, bio-diversity preservation, sustainable utility and management over natural resources for socio-economic development.
Hesaidthat the region’s environment has been generally maintained secure for health and the ecology; several ASEAN countries have hold high rankings of the Environmental Performance Index (EPI); and the bloc has completed cooperative activities to ensure a sustainable environment as laid downin the Master Plan of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community in the 2009-2015 period.
The Government leader also highlighted achievements in environmental protection cooperation between ASEAN and itspartners and stated that Viet Nam considers environmental protection as animportant partin renewing the growth model towards green development and for people’s health.
He expressed his hope that the meetings will devise specific cooperative programs and plans to ensure a sustainable environment, respond and adapt to climate change while making contributions to the success of the 21st United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris in December.
He also expressed his gratitude to theASEAN members, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, ASEAN’s partners and the ASEAN Secretariat for their support for Viet Nam in protecting the environment, expecting that the partners will continue to join hands in preserving the green climate for the region and the world.
Attended by environment ministers from Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea (RoK), the ASEAN Secretariat, and representatives of ASEAN’s partner organizations, AMME 13 will review progress in implementing regional environmental deals since AMME 12 and make proposals for future environmental cooperation.
The meeting will also discuss and adopt an ASEAN Declaration on Climate Change to prepare for the COP21 and the Joint Statement and Outcomes Statement of AMME 13./.