The third Ministerial Regional Forum on Environment and Health opened in Malaysia ’s capital city of Kuala Lumpur on September 10.

The event has drawn the participation of environment and health portfolio ministers and deputy ministers from 14 Southeast Asian and East Asian countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and host Malaysia.

Malaysian Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel said Malaysia is committed to fully supporting the member nations’ aspiration to achieve a solid collaboration in the fields of environmental preservation and health.

The minister told the press that such regional cooperation bodes well with the country’s push towards becoming a fully developed nation.

During the forum, participants will discuss a broad range of issues, including the impact of environmental factors on water supply, poor sanitation and indoor and outdoor hygiene systems, he said.

They will also talk air pollution, deforestation, industrial accidents and other environmental issues, added he.

The two-day forum is expected to adopt measures which had been discussed during the previous event in Jeju, the Republic of Korea three years ago.

The forum’s website stated that this year’s event will reinforce suggestions on collaborative governance efforts, partnerships and impacts related to environmental and health issues.

Participants will discuss sustainable financial mechanisms that could complement this regional collaborative platform in the two areas of concern.-VNA