Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Nguyen Van Duc said Southeast Asia has been seriously affected by natural disasters. Countries in the regions will have to deal with all forms of disasters.

Duc said since the establishment, the sub-committee has been carrying out a variety of projects and cooperative activities in order to improve the capacity of meteorology, hydrography and geophysics, especially in disaster observation, climate change, weather forecast and more precise early disaster warnings, all contributing to alleviating the disasters’ impacts and promoting socio-economic development in the region.

Duc said in the context that climate change has affected all aspects of social life and member countries’ millennial targets, the sub-committee will have more responsibilities.

This year’s meeting will review the implementation of projects and initiatives proposed at the 31^st meeting in Thailand a year ago, with the sponsorship of ASEAN’s three partners: Japan, the Republic of Korea and China.

In addition, ASEAN members will discuss three important issues including earthquakes, tidal waves; low tropical pressures on the East Sea; and transborder smog.

The meeting will also provide ASEAN countries with a platform to exchange information and experiences in studying and warning of storms and low tropical pressures on the East Sea; dealing with smog and building an early warning centre for earthquakes and tidal waves, promoting the cooperation between ASEAN countries in the fields of meteorology and geographics.

The meeting will last until May 12.