ASEM Green Growth Forum opens in Hanoi

The ASEM Green Growth Forum, with the theme “Jointly acting towards green economies,” officially opened in Hanoi on October 3, drawing the participation of 180 local and foreign delegates.
The ASEM Green Growth Forum, with the theme “Jointly acting towardsgreen economies,” officially opened in Hanoi on October 3, drawing theparticipation of 180 local and foreign delegates.

Initiated by Vietnam at the 8 th ASEM Summit in Belgium in 2010,the forum is co-sponsored by Germany , the Republic of Korea , theUK and the Netherlands .

Opening the forum,Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh reaffirmed the importanceof the ASEM Green Growth Forum. It is one of the important events ofASEM in 2011 and offers a chance for Vietnam as well as other membercountries to share experience in this new issue.

He stressed that green growth is not only a momentum for globaleconomic recovery but also a model and tool to promote sustainabledevelopment based on three mutually-influential factors, namely economicdevelopment, social security and environmental protection.

Building a green economy will bring in great socio-economic benefitsand help realise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Ninh said,adding that many ASEM members have taken the lead in building greeneconomy and considered green growth as a national developmentorientation in the coming decades.

The deputy PMstressed that, in its 2011-2020 socio-economic development strategy,the Vietnamese government advocates combining rapid, sustainableeconomic development with social progress and equality, andenvironmental protection. Vietnam is outlining a green developmentstrategy through 2020, he added.

VietnameseDeputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Doan Xuan Hung said that ASEM is oneof the inter-regional forums, which has led in terms of fostering greengrowth.

The contents and recommendations putforth at this forum will be included in the agenda of the 4 th ASEANEnvironmental Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for 2012 in Mongolia , henoted.

International delegates held that in thecurrent context when climate change is posing a regular threat, greengrowth has become an issue of common concern by many countriesthroughout the world.

Therefore, ASEM shouldplay a leading role in promoting the model of green growth, developingnew technologies and sharing experience in the entire region, they said.

During the two-day forum, participants willshare experience in making and carrying out national strategies on greengrowth. They will also discuss ways to enhance the role oforganisations in promoting the green growth model as well as strengthencooperation among ASEM members./.

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