Representatives of Vietnam and other Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member countries discussed measures to boost cooperation in natural disaster management at a seminar in the central city of Da Nang on July 28.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Dao Xuan Hoc said the event offered Vietnamese managers, scientists and specialists a chance to gain experience in dealing with disasters from international organisations and regional countries.
A representative of the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said the event was one of the most important activities of APEC hosted by Vietnam this year, and that Vietnam’s initiative in organising the seminar was a meaningful contribution to joint efforts towards ensuring security for humanity.
Ambassador Muhamad Noob Yacob, General Director of APEC Secretariat, affirmed that natural disaster prevention was one of top priorities of APEC. In the near future, APEC would continue providing funds for cooperative projects on building capacity to deal with natural disasters and emergencies, he added.
At the event, the delegates reviewed the Asia-Pacific flood situation in recent years, shared experience and information on technologies to mitigate the impacts of large-scale floods, as well as discussed measures to step up cooperation among APEC countries, and between APEC and relevant international organisations in the future.
The Japanese representatives presented their experience in drawing up a flood warning map and lessons in overcoming the consequences of earthquakes and tsunami in the country last March.
Report on outcomes of the seminar and suggestions will be submitted to the APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting this September in San Francisco and the 23 rd APEC Foreign and Economic Ministers’ Meeting this November in Hawaii, the US.
During the two-day event, the delegates will pay a working visit to the municipal Centre for Flood Prevention and tour Dong Nghe water reservoir and Tuy Loan embankment in Hoa Vang district in the locality./.
(VNA)
