The second partnership conference of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response was held in central Da Nang city on November 28 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in conjunction with the ASEAN Secretariat.

Delegates from 10 ASEAN member states, East Asian countries, strategic partners and donors reviewed the implementation of the Working Programme in the 2010-2012 period, including the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management.

The conference was also considered a channel for partners to study cooperation opportunities in disaster management with ASEAN member countries so as to effectively implement 21 projects in the 2013-2015 period.

Deputy Head of the General Department of Irrigation Nguyen Xuan Dieu stressed that over the past decade, many disasters have caused great human and property losses in the region and the world.

ASEAN states and others worldwide need to work together in the fight against natural disasters, he added.

The ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response was approved in 2009. It is a legal framework for cooperation, coordination, technical assistance and resources mobilisation in disaster management.-VNA