ASEAN enhances mineral-related cooperation with China, Japan, RoK

Vietnamese delegates participating in ASOMM+3 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - The 14th meeting between senior officials on minerals of 10 ASEAN countries and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) (ASOMM+3) was held via videoconference on October 7.

Nguyen Thanh Thao, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation under the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam said that within the ASEAN+3 framework of cooperation, many cooperation activities on mineral exploitation have been implemented and achieved remarkable results. Accordingly, the countries have discussed, agreed on and carried out cooperation measures to promote effective management in the region towards environmental protection and sustainable development.

In the coming time, ASEAN+3 countries need to support the region’s mining industry to recover and develop after the COVID-19 pandemic, maintain and strengthen the connectivity of mineral product supply chains in a sustainable and complementary manner, intensifying financial cooperation, making use of science and technology advances, and mobilising private investment in cooperation in infrastructure development, green finance and human resource development in the mining industry, stressed Thao.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

According to Le Quoc Hung, deputy head of the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam, over the years, Vietnam's mining industry has demonstrated its role and position in national socio-economic development, and is getting closer to the level of developed countries.

In addition, the sector has actively contributed to the implementation of the Party's guidelines and the Government's directions on external affairs related to the protection and sustainable development of natural resources and minerals, and to promoting international cooperation in bilateral and multilateral frameworks, he added.

Ito Yusuke, deputy head of the Minerals and Mining Department under the Japanese Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, said that Japan wishes to maintain its cooperation with ASEAN countries to promote the development of the mineral industry in accordance with specific characteristics of each country.

At the meeting, with the development of a new cooperation plan for 2022-2025, participating countries showed their commitment to  pursuing policy improvements in the mineral value chain and sustainable mineral governance, and building an effective ASEAN mineral database to facilitate investment in mineral exploration and development in the region./.

VNA