Three cities of Vietnam recognized as ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities

Attending the seminar were representatives of the Ministry of Environment of Japan, Agency for International Development (USAID), the ASEAN Secretariat and the representatives of other countries in the region.

The seminar is a high-level and comprehensive forum for relevant parties in East Asia to review progress and discuss priority issues for sustainable urban development in the Asian region. At the same time, it marks a new development step in the cooperation among East Asian countries on environmentally sustainable cities.

Based on this objective, at the seminar, the delegates together discussed and shared experiences, thereby enabling Member States to act more effectively in the establishment and maintenance of environmentally sustainable cities network in the region. The activities of environmental pollution control, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, water security, and environmental health have contributed positively to the achievement of sustainable development goals in general and building sustainable cities in particular.

Speaking at the seminar, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said: Thanks to the effective support from ASEAN sustainable city model program, so far three cities of Viet Nam have received ASEAN sustainable city award including Da Nang in 2001, Ha Long City (Quang Ninh Province) in 2008 and Hue City (Thua Thien - Hue) in 2014.

"Under the framework of Global Environment Fund support, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is working with Asian Development Bank to deploy the project on sustainable city construction and climate change adaptation. It aims at strengthening institutional capacity, policy and investment to address the challenges of environmental pollution, climate change, etc. in the urban areas in the upcoming time "- said. Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and environment