Environment ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday agreed on several regional environmental initiatives after a two-day meeting in Yangon. 

According to a press release issued at the end of the 9th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, the ministers agreed to contribute actively to the objective of an ASEAN Community by 2020 through concrete and realistic national and regional environmental strategies and measures.

The ministers strove to conclude by 2004 an ASEAN framework agreement on access to, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of biological and genetic resources.

The ministers signed the revised Declaration on ASEAN Heritage Parks and resolved to further enhance cooperation on protected-area management through the mechanisms provided by the declaration.

The ministers adopted the Framework for Environmentally Sustainable Cities in ASEAN to address the challenges of environmental sustainability, and the ASEAN Long Term Strategic Plan for Water Resources Management to meet the needs in terms of health, food security, economy and environment.

The ministers also agreed to work toward a plan of action with a definite time frame to harmonize environmental policies, legislation, regulations, standards and databases, taking into account national circumstances of member countries, the release went on to say.

The ministers further agreed to promote the role of ASEAN Regional Center for Bio-diversity Conservation by reviewing its management structure and programs and providing necessary support for the continued sustainability of the center.

Moreover, the ministers agreed to set up an ASEAN Environment Fund to implement regional environmental initiatives, calling developed countries to provide financial resource, enhance capacity building and promote technology transfer to developing countries.

The ministers adopted the Yangon Resolution on Sustainable Development and launched the ASEAN Environmental Education Inventory Database, according to the release.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2003)