Vietnam commits to actively participate in ASEAN regional disaster management

On the morning of October 9, the 43rd Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management opened in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province.

The conference was attended by members of 10 ASEAN countries and Timor Leste as an observer.

This event is within the framework of Vietnam's rotating role as Chair of ASEAN cooperation on disaster management in 2023, hosting the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM), annual meetings of ACDM and organizing response activities.

This is both a responsibility and an opportunity for Vietnam to proactively lead, enhance its position, and demonstrate its role in ASEAN cooperation on disaster management in particular and in building the ASEAN Community and relations between ASEAN and its partners in general.

At the same time, assuming the role of Chair will help Vietnam take advantage of experience and resources from partners and the international community for disaster prevention and control, actively contributing to building an ASEAN community that is resilient to natural disasters, contributing to the common development of the country and the region.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep speaks at the ceremony. Photo: Van Thang.

It is expected that in this series of events, 10 ASEAN member countries will adopt the Ha Long Declaration on "Strengthening early action in disaster management".

At the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that ASEAN has achieved practical results in all aspects of natural disaster prevention and control, from assessment and monitoring, prevention, response and mitigation of natural disaster risks, to enhancing resilience to natural disasters.

On behalf of the host country, Deputy Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep pledged to actively and responsibly participate in disaster management activities in the ASEAN region.

Overview of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management. Photo: Van Thang.

"We are completely confident that with determination, scientific and methodical approaches, and the support of international partners and friends, we will overcome challenges and build a united and strong ASEAN community, leading in global disaster management," Mr. Hiep affirmed.

Through this, Mr. Hiep assessed that the issuance of the Ha Long Declaration at this conference was a notable highlight. He emphasized that this is a central, important task, of urgent significance for ASEAN countries in implementing coordination tasks, in order to adapt to the challenges from natural disasters, climate change... that have been occurring more and more recently.

ASEAN delegates take a souvenir photo before entering the discussion session. Photo: Van Thang.

This conference continued to give opinions and approve a number of main contents on the Implementation of decisions of relevant Senior Leaders; update the results of the implementation of the ADDMER program 2021-2025 in the past time; discuss to submit to the Ministerial Conference to approve the Ha Long Declaration and discuss the Financial Regulations of the ASEAN Disaster Management and Emergency Response Fund; provisions on the duties and powers of the ASEAN Secretary-General in his role as ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator; cooperation content, agreement 4 with partners China, Japan, Korea and update the results of implementing disaster management activities in the ASEAN region in the past time.

It is known that the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Management was held on October 12, with the participation of 6 ministers, 8 deputy ministers and more than 140 international delegates who are leaders and officials of disaster prevention and control agencies of 10 ASEAN member countries, the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Regional Coordinating Center for Humanitarian Assistance on Disasters, ASEAN development partners (including China, Korea, Japan) and a number of international organizations in the region.

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