Eighth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals wraps up
The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin 8), which took place in form of teleconference, concluded on October 8, issuing a joint statement on the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP).
Participating ministers agreed that the second phase of the AMCAP for 2021 – 2025 focuses on the promotion of domestic and international investment in all components of the mineral value chain; the application of sustainable mineral development principles and efforts to expand the participation and contributions of partners; and building human, institutional and technical capacity in mineral management, among others.
They said new strategies and effective tools must be devised to upgrade the ASEAN Mineral Database and Information System (AMDIS) to support more active investment promotion and the development of complete, high-quality geological data and resource maps.
Delivering his closing speech, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Quy Kien stressed that regarding emerging regional and international issues, it is necessary for ASEAN's centrality to be maintained and promoted in a bid to boost dialogue, cooperation, and the creation of an open transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional structure.
The AMMin 8 continues to affirm the strength of solidarity, resilience and the ability to flexibly adapt to challenges, he said.
The official noted that with the desire to unite the bloc for development, participants discussed and agreed on many drastic and practical measures to promote cooperation to overcome challenges facing ASEAN, maintain the collaboration momentum, and give directions for the ASEAN Community to develop stronger to truly become the core of the region.
Participating ministers expected Brunei will hold the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Minerals (ASOMM), which is slated for 2022; and Cambodia will host the AMMin 9 in 2023.
