HA NOI — Japan, China and South
Korea pledged a variety of environmental co-operation with the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a meeting of ASEAN + 3 senior
officials in Ha Noi yesterday.
Japan's representatives promised
US$70 million for the ASEAN development fund and more than $50 million
to help narrow the development gap between ASEAN members.
They also agreed to an exchange of
young people over five years at a total cost of $325 million and support
for ASEAN member countries to implement the 3R Policy (Reduce, Recycle,
Reuse).
China's representatives asked for
the establishment of an ASEAN-China Environment Centre to work as
consultant and technical co-operative agency for the drafting of
strategies for environmental protection to 2019.
The ASEAN member countries acknowledge China as the master of both environmental impact and strategic environmental assessments.
South Korea's representatives
pledged to support short-term training courses as well as masters and
doctorate courses to improve environmental skills within ASEAN.
The ASEAN + 3 officials met to review co-operation between the group and propose new initiatives for environmental co-operation.
Their talks were part of the
preparations for the ASEAN + 3 Environment Ministers Meeting scheduled
for Brunei in August next year.
Senior officials briefed the
gathering about the promotion of environmental education between
2008-12, including the ASEAN Youth Forum for sustainable development and
an Ecological School Programme in Japan, China and South Korea.
Brunei is a key nation in the effort to promote environmental education and to call for co-operation from the +3 countries.
The meeting decided that
ASEAN-South Korea environmental officials would organise two short-term
training courses for experts and senior officials.
The courses are intended to promote
an exchange of experience and knowledge about sustainable development
strategies between environmental agencies and relevant organisations in
South Korea. — VNS
by http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/
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