ASEAN told to launch better response to disasters, epidemics

Deputy PM Dam made the request during the 38th conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) which opened on November 25 in Hanoi.

The Deputy PM stated that Southeast Asia countries throughout the region are facing many non-traditional security challenges, including epidemics, natural disasters, cybersecurity, and cybercrime, requiring all nations to improve their capacity in an effort to competently deal with new risks.

In this process, the consolidation of technical infrastructure, human resources, especially engineers, along with each citizen’s skills, is of paramount importance, Dam said.

He used the platform to acknowledge AFEO’s contributions to ASEAN’s development over the years, and expressed his hope that the 38th AFEO meeting will showcase useful solutions for member organisations and governments to achieve the goal of building a sustainable and prosperous bloc.

“The Government of Vietnam will continue to create favourable conditions for engineers and technicians from Vietnam and other ASEAN countries to develop skills and actively participate in AFEO co-operation programmes and initiatives,” said Deputy PM Dam.

Nghiem Vu Khai, vice president of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and president of the AFEO 38, voiced AFEO’s commitment to fully implementing the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, along with the United Nations Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030).

This, according to Khai, can be achieved through strengthening the key role of engineers’ in implementing sustainable development goals, and initiating high-quality technical co-operation schemes in order to build a connected, equitable, and prosperous ASEAN community.

Delegates attending the online conference discussed a range of major issues relating to transportation, environmental engineering, disaster response, as well as the role of engineers in ASEAN’s sustainable development issues amidst ACOVID-19 challenges.

The VUSTA originally joined the AFEO in 1998, going on to host regional AFEO conferences back in 2000 and 2010.