Eighth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals opens

Vietnamese delegation to the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin 8) opened on October 8 in the form of teleconference.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said minerals have contributed to socio-economic development for a long term.

However, overexploitation and unsustainable use of natural resources have resulted in serious challenges such as environmental pollution, ecological breakdown and climate crisis, he added.

It’s time for ASEAN’s minerals sector to reform its development pathway to match global trends like circular, low-carbon economy, and reduction of reliance on fossil fuels, the minister stressed.

To build a sustainable minerals sector, he suggested ASEAN strengthen cooperation and coordination in the time ahead.

As an active and responsible member of the ASEAN Community, Vietnam stands ready to cooperate with countries and partners in the sharing of scientific knowledge about minerals and new technologies to seek new strategic minerals and create long-term values like museums and geo-parks, Ha said.

Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

At the meeting, delegates looked into issues regarding priority solutions and tasks of ASEAN in 2021, the development of the ASEAN community, a report on the implementation and supervision of the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP), and another of the ASEAN Federation of Mining Associations (AFMA), among others.

Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem said the second phase of the AMCAP (2021-2025) should focus on investments in the minerals value chain, and utilise minerals information and data on the ASOOM 3 platform.

The delegates also discussed issues relating to major solutions and priorities of ASEAN in this year, and the development of the ASEAN Community, especially those regarding the fourth industrial revolution and the circular economy.

They reviewed outcomes of the work of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Minerals (ASOMM) and the working group in 2020 and 2021, issued a statement on relevant policies, and approved major recommendations on regional cooperation in minerals in response to opportunities and challenges.

They shared the view that the issuance of the statement on the ASEAN agenda on mining and targets to realise the 2030 agenda will help boost mining cooperation in the grouping comprehensively in the new period, toward a prosperous, green and sustainable ASEAN Community, contributing to global initiatives, raising ASEAN’s position as well as the future of each ASEAN member country./.

VNA