The country, which became a member of ASEAN in 1995, began participating in the bloc’s environmental cooperation in 1996.
Since its foundation, the Vietnam office of the ASEAN Senior Officials
on the Environment (ASOEN) has actively taken part in all spheres of
environmental cooperation such as biodiversity, climate change,
chemicals and waste, marine environment and coastal zone, environmental
technology, environmental education, trans-boundary haze pollution
control, water resources management, and sustainable production and
consumption.
For over 20 years, Vietnam has established itself in different fields of
cooperation, including environment, Tai said, noting that through ASEAN
cooperation, countries in the region and the world have gained a better
understanding of Vietnam’s foreign policy and Doi moi (renewal)
attainments.
At the same time, the country has also had chances to exchange
experience, access scientific and technological advances, improve its
capacity and proactively suggest initiatives in order to promote win-win
cooperation, he added.
As ASEAN is building and implementing the targets of the ASEAN Community
by 2025 across the three pillars of politics-security, economy and
culture-society, cooperation within ASEAN and between the bloc and its
partners will be further expanded.
Therefore, Vietnam should timely grasp opportunities to improve
capacity, contribute more to the ASEAN Community and realise the
Sustainable Development Goals, the official said.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Tram from the ASOEN office in Vietnam said the scope of
environmental cooperation is very large, and a flexible mechanism is
necessary to mobilise all domestic resources to effectively participate
in environmental cooperation activities in ASEAN. Strategic solutions
also need to be carried out to capitalise on advantages and
opportunities and tackle difficulties.
She said the country should proactively design and propose initiatives
that can benefit the region and itself while enhancing communication
activities to raise public awareness of regional cooperation in the
environment.
Vietnam asserts role in ASEAN cooperation in environment
Vietnam’s participation in ASEAN cooperation in the environment has clearly demonstrated the country’s proactive, active and responsible integration into the world.
General Director of the Vietnam Environment Administration Nguyen Van
Tai made the remark at a workshop on January 6 reviewing 20 years of
Vietnam’s engagement in the ASEAN environmental cooperation.
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