Experts and members of the technical working group of five Mekong sub-region countries gathered at a seminar in Hanoi on June 2, discussing solutions to transboundary haze pollution. According to Nguyen Huu Dung, Deputy Head of the Forest Ranger Department, the seminar will make suggestions to the agenda of the third meeting of the Mekong Sub-region Technical Working Group and the fourth conference of the Standing Committee of the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, which will be held in the next two days.
Experts and representatives from the five countries, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, discussed and shared experience in their countries’ plans of action, especially the completion of a plan of action for the Technical Working Group.
Over the past time, experts of the Technical Working Group gave out many initiatives, which effectively helped forest fire management in each country and contributed to boosting regional cooperation for common targets.
The ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution was approved in 2002. Since then, ASEAN countries have coordinated in carrying out various emergency activities to effectively reduce transboundary haze pollution caused by forest fire. The achievements were markedly attributed to efforts of Mekong sub-region countries.
Vietnam has, over the past decade, applied various measures, including remote sensing technology, to control forest fire, and constantly increased forest coverage nationwide. The country also pledged to actively engage in international cooperation with regional countries, especially other Mekong sub-region countries.