16th ASEAN ministerial meeting on environment, its related meetings continue

Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U Khin Maung Yi and officials attended the 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (COP-16) and 17th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting – EMM chaired by Indonesia through videoconferencing yesterday morning.
First, Indonesia and its rotating chair, the Philippines, gave opening remarks on ASEAN cross-border smog control issues.
The Philippines conducted a climate and smog analysis in the ASEAN region.
Next, country-specific fire and smog reports, implementation status of cross-border smog, establishing the ASEAN Coordination Center for the implementation of smoke control, ASEAN peat management report and report on cross-border smog in Indonesia were also stated by the Philippines.
After that, Union Minister U Khin Maung Yi presented a report on cross-border smog pollution in Myanmar and exchanged views.
Measures to reduce agricultural fires in the country, needs for capacity building in the region were also discussed.
After the discussions, reports were approved by the ASEAN officials.
In the afternoon, the 17th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting was held and representatives from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China delivered opening speeches.
Implementation of the ASEAN-China Environmental Cooperation Strategy (2021-2025), Joint Declaration on Green Development and Sustainable Development, ASEAN-Japan Environmental Cooperation, ASEAN-Korea Environmental Implementation and Cooperation on Environmental and Climate Change were discussed by officials from Japan, the Republic of Korea and China.
Next, Ministers of ASEAN Member States exchanged views on further enhancing new areas in cooperation with ASEAN + 3 countries.
Union Minister U Khin Maung Yi discussed that the environmental cooperation of ASEAN + 3 countries contributed to the sustainable development of the ASEAN region and the achievement of the ASEAN Vision 2025.
At the meeting, the summary report of the 17th ASEAN Plus Three Environment Ministers Meeting was approved and the Chairperson of the 16th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Environment concluded the meeting. —MNA