Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia will host the 36th Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN-36) in Langkawi, Kedah, from July 28 - 31, in conjunction with the country's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), in a statement on July 22, said the meeting serves as ASEAN's highest technical platform on environmental matters, bringing together senior officials from all 10 member states to strengthen regional policies, strategies and cooperation on environmental protection.
It said that ASOEN-36 will focus on biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of natural resources and joint actions to address climate change.
The four-day meeting will commence with discussions on the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate Change, which will be presented at the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP30), to ensure a more unified ASEAN voice in global climate negotiations.
This will be followed by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Governing Board Meeting to deliberate on strategic direction, policies, programme implementation, and other aspects related to the management of the ACB in preserving regional biodiversity.
According to the NRES, the programme will also include the 19th ASEAN-Japan Dialogue on Environmental Cooperation (AJDEC), as well as dialogues with the Republic of Korea (RoK), the European Union and the United States.
ASOEN-36 will involve seven technical working groups covering areas such as biodiversity, climate change, waste management, sustainable cities, and water resource management. A joint meeting with ASEAN Plus Three dialogue partners - China, Japan and the RoK - will also take place.
The ministry said the hosting of ASOEN-36 provides Malaysia with an opportunity to showcase its environmental sustainability initiatives and achievements, while strengthening regional diplomacy in line with the Malaysia MADANI principles.
It said this edition of ASOEN also emphasises sustainability in line with the Guideline for the Implementation of the ASEAN Sustainable Initiatives issued by the NRES, focusing on carbon footprint reduction, efficient resource use and responsible waste management.
The NRES added that ASOEN-36 builds on the outcomes of the 35th ASOEN Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos, and continues the mandate of advancing environmental issues for further discussion at the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME).
The statement added that the NRES hopes ASOEN-36 will accelerate collective actions and further strengthen regional collaboration towards more holistic and sustainable environmental protection./.
