Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has said he hoped for the exchange of information and experiences between regional member countries and nations outside ASEAN to solve technical issues to cope with, adapt to and reduce the impacts of global climate change to ensure a prosperous ASEAN.

Deputy PM Khiem stated this at the 28 th Conference of ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (CAFEO 28) that opened in Hanoi on December 1.

On addressing the event entitled “ Engineering and Technology for a Better Quality of Life in Response to Climate Change”, Khiem confirmed that Vietnam has taken part in many ASEAN activities in an active, proactive and responsible manner in the context of global climate change and international economic integration.

The Vietnamese Government always attaches great importance to social welfare issues, ranging from ensuring food security and energy to the development of education and training and science-technology, said the deputy PM.

Vietnam has also enhanced cooperative ties with other ASEAN nations and countries worldwide in these fields, said Deputy PM Khiem, adding that many issues can not be solved without regional and global cooperation and coordination.

The two-day conference will focus on five topics: engineering and technology for construction of buildings and infrastructures; environmental engineering and technologies; energy, mechanical, electrical engineering electronics and information technology; education and training of engineers; technologies for health, safety and management.

The participants will be briefed of ASEAN member countries’ technological activities and assess CAFEO’s activities as well as tour a number of major projects and prestigious producers in Hanoi .

CAFEO has been held alternately by the 10 ASEAN member countries and Vietnam hosted CAFEO 18 in Hanoi in 2000.

The 28 th conference drew delegates from CAFEO, the World Federation of Engineering Organisations (WFEO), the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET) and engineering organisations from the US , Japan , the Republic of Korea , Australia , India , Germany , the UK , New Zealand , mainland China and Hong Kong and Taiwan./.