The ASEAN-Japan Ministerial Dialogue on Environment and Climate Change held in Vientiane on August 24 to discuss further cooperation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lao Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bounkham Vorachit said that the ASEAN-Japan partnership have a long successful history of cooperation on environmental issues.
This year is a special year because we celebrate our 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation. Since the establishment of ASEAN and Japan dialogue relations, ASEAN and Japan have been working together in many cooperation areas and Environmental Cooperation Initiative which have significantly contributed to address the challenge of ASEAN member states in climate change, waste management, and marine plastic debris, pollution and biodiversity losses, she said.
All nations around the globe including ASEAN member states are facing environmental concerns including natural disaster and climate change. Thus we strongly believe that deepening our relationship and cooperation with Japan in all fields will bring the benefits to our people. It will also contribute to the global and region’s peace stability, prosperity and human wellbeing. Thus, an innovative partnership with our partners especially with Japan needs to be strengthened in order to overcome these challenges, Bounkham called on.
This dialogue is an opportunity for Asean and Japan to reaffirm their commitment to environmental cooperation and to discuss how they can work together to address the climate crisis.
The meeting have reviewed the progress of the ASEAN-Japan Environmental Cooperation Initiative and the ASEAN Climate Change Action Agenda 2.0 and considered the New Initiative “Strategic Program for ASEAN Climate and Environment”(SPACE)which will be introduced by partner Japan.
Source: Lao News Agency