Eighth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals opens

The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin 8) opened on October 8 in the form of teleconference.
Eighth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals opens ảnh 1Vietnamese delegation to the meeting (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 8th ASEANMinisterial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin 8) opened on October 8 in the form ofteleconference.

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

However, overexploitation and unsustainable use ofnatural resources have resulted in serious challenges such as environmentalpollution, ecological breakdown and climate crisis, he added.

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

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

As an active and responsible member of the ASEANCommunity, Vietnam stands ready to cooperate with countries and partners in thesharing of scientific knowledge about minerals and new technologies to seek newstrategic minerals and create long-term values like museums and geo-parks, Hasaid.
Eighth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals opens ảnh 2Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)
At the meeting, delegates looked into issuesregarding priority solutions and tasks of ASEAN in 2021, the development of theASEAN community, a report on the implementation and supervision of the ASEANMinerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP), and another of the ASEAN Federationof Mining Associations (AFMA), among others.

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

The delegates also discussed issues relating tomajor solutions and priorities of ASEAN in this year, and the development ofthe ASEAN Community, especially those regarding the fourth industrialrevolution and the circular economy.

They reviewed outcomes of the work of the ASEANSenior Officials Meeting on Minerals (ASOMM) and the working group in 2020 and2021, issued a statement on relevant policies, and approved majorrecommendations on regional cooperation in minerals in response toopportunities and challenges.

They shared the view that the issuance of thestatement on the ASEAN agenda on mining and targets to realise the 2030 agendawill help boost mining cooperation in the grouping comprehensively in the newperiod, toward a prosperous, green and sustainable ASEAN Community, contributingto global initiatives, raising ASEAN’s position as well as the future of eachASEAN member country./.

VNA

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