More than 200 domestic and foreign delegates are attending the fourth High-level Seminar on Environmentally Sustainable Cities (HLS ESC), which got underway in Hanoi on March 21 within the framework of the East Asian Environment Ministers’ Meeting (EAS EMM).

The delegate represent for national and local offices, bilateral and international development agencies, non-governmental organisations, city networks, private enterprises, academia and community groups.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen said that at the first EAS EMM in Hanoi in October 2008, the participating ministers agreed to give top priority to the issue of environmentally sustainable cities in environmental cooperation of East Asian countries.

The HLS ESC is the flagship collaborative initiative by 18 East Asia Summit participating countries (consisting of 10 ASEAN member nations, plus Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the US and Russia) to promote concrete activities on environmentally sustainable cities in the region.

This year’s two-day event continues offering a high-level and comprehensive forum for relevant parties to review and discuss prioritised issues on sustainable urban development in Asia, with the key goals of boosting new and specific activities between governments, international organisations, private companies and academia, and expanding cooperation between cities.-VNA