The 43rd annual meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management opened in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, featuring the participation of 10 ASEAN member states and Timor Leste serving as observers.

According to the rotation order among ASEAN members, in 2023, Vietnam will assume the position of Chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM), chair the organization of the 11th Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management (AMMDM), ACDM annual meetings and launch response activities.

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

In addition, assuming the role of chairmanship will help Vietnam take advantage of experience and resources from partners and the international community for the country’s natural disaster prevention and control and actively contribute to building ASEAN community that is resilient to natural disasters, contributing to the common development of the country and the region.

In his opening speech, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep said that this conference will continue to give opinions and approve a number of major contents on implementing decisions of relevant senior leaders; updating the outcomes of the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) 2021 - 2025 program in recent times.

The conference will also submit to the Ministerial Conference for adoption the Ha Long Declaration on strengthening early action in disaster management in the ASEAN region and discuss financial regulations of the ASEAN Disaster Management and Emergency Relief Fund, provisions on duties and powers of the Secretary General of ASEAN in his role as ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance Coordinator.

In addition, issues relating to cooperation and agreements with Chinese, Japanese and Korean partners and updates on the results of implementation of disaster management activities in the ASEAN region were also tabled for discussion.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep emphasized that with the rotating chairmanship, the support of ASEAN member states, the help of the ASEAN Secretariat and other relevant agencies, Vietnam and Brunei have fulfilled the task of coordinating ASEAN natural disaster management activities in 2023 with many practical and effective agendas.

From the results achieved, Vietnam has and will continue to commit to participating actively and responsibly in disaster management activities in the ASEAN region, Hiep continued.

Hiep said he believes that with determination, scientific and methodical methods, and the support of international partners and friends, we will build a united, strong, and leading ASEAN community in management. natural disasters globally.

Earlier at the 42nd annual ACDM meeting held in June in Da Nang, practical results were achieved in all aspects of the natural disaster prevention and control process, from assessment and monitoring, prevention, response and natural disaster risk mitigation, to enhancement of disaster resilience.

Within the framework of the 43rd annual ACDM meeting from October 9 - 11, an array of activities to be organised in the next few days include the 11th AMMDM; the AMMDM Plus China, AMMDM Plus Japan, and AMMDM Plus RoK; the 43rd annual ACDM meeting; the ACDM Plus meetings with the three Northeast Asian countries; the 19th meeting of the AHA Centre’s Governing Board; and the 4th ASEAN Disaster Resilience Platform.

The ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (October 13) and the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2023 will be held at Bai Chay Primary and Secondary School in Ha Long city.

Source: VOV