ASEAN energy ministers have pledged to joint efforts in addressing climate change issues through energy cooperation towards a green and low-carbon economy.

The commitment was affirmed in a joint statement released at the 28 th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM 28), themed “Energy and Climate Change”, which concluded in Da Lat city of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong on July 23.

According to the statement, the ministers also affirmed their commitment to building a common region on energy in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) for 2010-2015.

They emphasised the importance of voluntary cooperation on civil nuclear energy development in the region and the necessity of early implemention of projects to link electricity lines in Southeast Asia in order to stabilise and share power sources in the region.

They also stressed the need for further cooperation in building gas provision infrastructure for ASEAN countries.

Regarding the bloc’s energy cooperation with dialogue partners and private sectors, the statement says that international partners and organisations also play an important role in realising the 2010-2015 APAEC goals and in helping ASEAN move closer to a model of “Low Carbon - Green Growth”.

The statement brings out a message that ASEAN should tighten energy cooperation with the East Asian region, China , Japan and the Republic of Korea , with a focus on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and civil nuclear energy development.

The statement applauds cooperation and opportunities for cooperation in energy with Russia and the US with several specific programmes which were agreed during the first consultation meetings between ASEAN and the two partners.

The ministers agreed that effective energy cooperation in the public and private sectors will be consolidated from both sides. They encouraged the more active and effective participation of the private sector in the 2010-2015 APAEC.

According to the statement, the AMEM 29 and related meetings will be held in Brunei in 2011./.