An overview of the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management in Hạ Long City. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NINH — ASEAN member countries yesterday adopted a declaration on enhancing early action in disaster management within the ASEAN region during the 11th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management in Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province.

The Hạ Long Declaration underscored the commitment of ASEAN ministers to enhance the implementation of early action in disaster management within ASEAN, with a special focus on the three main pillars: risk information, forecasting and early warning systems; planning, operation and implementation; and the promotion of pre-allocated financial resources.

The ministers emphasised the continuous efforts aimed at realising the ASEAN Vision 2025 for disaster management to make ASEAN a pioneering region in changing the landscape of disaster management within and outside the ASEAN region.

Additionally, they sought to strengthen ASEAN's leadership role in maintaining its central position, adopting innovative approaches, building sustainable financial systems, multi-sectoral and multilayered management, with people at the core by the year 2025.

The ministers reaffirmed their commitment to support the implementation of the ASEAN Early Warning Action Framework.

They pledged to achieve the goal of promoting the adoption and dissemination of early action approaches within ASEAN to safeguard people, property and livelihoods in the face of potential disasters, aiming to minimise losses and damages in ASEAN member countries.

Furthermore, they committed to making efforts to enhance regional and national risk information, forecasting and early warning systems.

They recommend that the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) and the Board of Directors of the ASEAN Regional Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Disaster Assistance (AHA Centre) conduct research and establish mechanisms for sharing high-quality data within the region and with their partners.

They stressed the importance of enhancing the planning, operation and implementation of early action measures for disaster prevention and response at both regional and national levels.

To achieve this goal, ASEAN member states will continue to promote the implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on ONE ASEAN, ONE RESPONSE: ASEAN Responding to Disasters as One in the Region and Outside the Region.

Member states will continue to enhance the financial capacity of the ASEAN region to respond to disasters by promoting cross-sectoral cooperation with other relevant sectors within ASEAN related to finance and risk insurance to implement regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Disaster Risk Financing and Insurance Programme and the ASEAN Disaster Risk Insurance Fund.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Lê Minh Hoan said Việt Nam will continue to commit to making every effort, actively participating alongside ASEAN member nations in building and effectively implementing common mechanisms for disaster management cooperation within ASEAN countries.

The minister emphasised that the ASEAN region, while a dynamic and developed part of the world, grapples with many challenges due to climate change and natural disasters.

Over the years, tsunamis, super typhoons, floods and severe earthquakes have claimed the lives of many people in ASEAN countries, causing significant disruptions and impeding the development of numerous regions.

Recognising the seriousness of these challenges, ASEAN nations have collaborated to establish and implement cooperative mechanisms with consolidated and progressively evolving visions. This approach involves enhancing information sharing, establishing connectivity at various levels and implementing training programmes to promote advanced approaches.

As the chair of the 2023 ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Management, Việt Nam has been actively promoting the theme: "From Response to Early Action and Enhanced Resilience, ASEAN Aiming for Global Leadership in Disaster Management."

This theme underscores a new direction in disaster management, shifting from passive response to proactive prevention and preparedness to minimise the impact of disasters.

United in spirit and fortified by strategic trust, ASEAN countries are earnestly collaborating on the principles of equality and mutual respect, all in pursuit of mutual benefits.

With determination and responsibility of the nations in the region, ASEAN countries believe that they can elevate their collective strength together, overcome challenges of climate change and natural disasters, safeguard the achievements of their collective efforts over the years, and propel ASEAN forward to remain a region of development, prosperity and security in the world, the minister said. — VNS