Looking back 20 years of cooperation between Việt Nam and ASEAN in environment

07/12/2017

   Through 20 years of cooperation with ASEAN, Việt Nam is increasingly reiterate its role and stance in the region, simultaneously create an image of a country that is renewing, actively developing, responsible and  a reliable partner in ASEAN and the international community.

   ASEAN cooperation in environment takes place when there are socio-economic and environmental changes in the region and the world, there are natural disasters such as tsunamis, landslides, storms… which create many challenges for ASEAN countries. The year 1989 marked the promotion of environmental cooperation of ASEAN member states through the establishment of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment. Afterwards, the ASEAN Charter (took effective in 2008) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Blueprint 2009 - 2015 are key principles for strong cooperation activities in ASEAN.

   Joining ASEAN since July 1995, Việt Nam has actively participated in cooperation activities of the region in all sectoral areas. In February 1996, Việt Nam ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN Việt Nam) was established and six working groups were formed: Coastal and marine environment, Environmental economics; Transboundary pollution; Environmental management; Environmental education and Nature conservation.  Since then, ASOEN Việt Nam has actively participated in environmental activities in the region, proposed many initiatives, and importantly contributed to ASEAN agreements.

   During 2011 - 2015, Việt Nam pioneered in implementing priorities towards forming the ASEAN Community. With the motto of being dynamic, proactive and responsible, Việt Nam has registered to organize many working group meetings, implemented cooperation programs and fully participated in ASEAN conference on environment at all levels as a role of a member state. Of which, the biggest event was when Việt Nam hosted a series of important meetings including the 13th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, the 14th ASEAN + 3 Ministerial Meetings on the Environment and related meetings in 2015. Within these meetings, Việt Nam proposed the initiative and collaborated with the ASEAN Secretariat to develop the Declaration on ASEAN post-2015 environment sustainability and climate change agenda, with an aim towards an ASEAN Community towards sustainable development, guarantee of green and clean environment. Simultaneously, ASEAN committed to actively participate in global efforts to address environmental challenges including climate change, ozone protection, as well as development and application of environmentally friendly technologies.

Huế is honoured as one of 10 ASEAN environmentally sustainable city

   Within ASEAN working groups on environment, with a role of a key member to the ASEAN Socio-cultural community, Việt Nam has effectively participated in working group’s programs, projects and activities, proposed many practical initiatives, and contributed to the general development of the region and the global. In addition to enhancing the cooperation and internal linkage, Việt Nam has actively participated in promoting cooperation between ASEAN and other partners (China, Japan, Russia, America…) in environment, through which to enhance the role and stance of Việt Nam in the world. In 20 years of ASEAN cooperation, friends within and outside the region understand more about the foreign policy of the Party and of the State of Việt Nam. Simultaneously, Việt Nam has conditions to learn and share experience, access to scientific - technology advances, capacity enhancement as well as be active in proposing initiatives to promote the cooperation. By now, Việt Nam has proposed more than 10 cooperation initiatives on ASEAN cooperation in environment, and implemented seven projects that Việt Nam is the focal point. Currently, Việt Nam has six National Parks that are recognized as ASEAN Heritage Parks including Chu Mong Ray, Hoang Lien, Ba Be, Kon Ka Kinh, U Minh Thuong, and Bai Tu Long National Parks. In addition, Việt Nam has four cities that were awarded environmentally sustainable city awards and recognized as clean land, clean air, clean water and ASEAN environmentally sustainable potential cities:  Ha Long, Da Nang, Hue, Da Lat; four schools that were awarded with ASEAN Eco-school awards including: Amsterdam Secondary School, Chu Van An High School, Foreign Language Specialised High School, and Experimental Secondary School.

   Although, Việt Nam has achieved many substantial achievements in the cooperation process, there are still many limitations and challenges that need to solve such as cooperation programs in the environment are very broad-scale, requiring flexible mechanisms to maximise internal domestic efforts in order to actively and effectively participate in ASEAN cooperation activities in environment. Currently, the quantity and qualification of specialized staff on ASOEN Việt Nam are limited; most staff implementing ASOEN activities are part-time. The cooperation among ASEAN and member states is increasing, requiring timely updates and synthesis of information for advising and coordinating activities among working groups and with relevant ministries, sectors. Particularly, financial source for implementation of Việt Nam’s initiative is limited, which cause difficulties in implementation and participation in cooperation activities in the region. These are major challenges, causing difficulties in implementing cooperation activities with ASEAN.

   While ASEAN aims to develop and implement objectives of the ASEAN Community to 2025, Việt Nam needs to develop a strategy or an action plan to participate in ASEAN cooperation in environment to be appropriate for each period and timely support national development strategies, particularly strategies on natural resources and environment. In addition, it is necessary to enhance capacity for Việt Nam ASOEN Office to effectively implement its coordination role of all ASEAN cooperation activities, as well as activities of high level East Asia cooperation in environment. At the same time, it is necessary to have policies and strategies to be appropriate with ASEAN cooperation activities, particularly regulations on expenditures for the organisation and participation in international cooperation events. Particularly, the attention and close instruction of leaders at all levels on ASEAN cooperation is important, which contribute to enhance the quality and effectiveness of ASEAN cooperation in environment, for the sustainable development of the region as well as of the world.

Nguyễn Thị Thanh Trâm 
Trương Thị Tuyết Nhung 
Việt Nam Asoen Office