Vietnam has 3 national parks recognized as new ASEAN Heritage Parks

Pu Mat National Park (Nghe An), Dong Nai Cultural and Nature Reserve and Xuan Thuy National Park (Ninh Binh) were recognized as new ASEAN Heritage Parks at the AMME-18 Conference.

Overview of AMME-18 Conference. Photo: Bui Hoan/VNA

On September 3, leaders and environment ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held a series of important meetings in Langkawi, Malaysia, including the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME-18) and the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP).

These meetings reaffirm the region's commitment to promoting cooperation and joint action towards a sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.

In his opening remarks at AMME-18, Malaysia’s Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Johari Abdul Ghani, highlighted three key priorities, including strengthening regional cooperation, developing a common stance for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) and stepping up the implementation of international environmental agreements.

Stressing the need for a unified stance, Acting Minister Johari called on member states to unite in order to effectively influence global climate discussions.

According to him, ASEAN can and should take a stronger stance on issues such as climate finance, adaptation, loss and damage, just transition and the Global Goals on Adaptation.

Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh (5th, left) takes a photo with delegates at the AMME-18 Conference in Langkawi (Malaysia). Photo: Bui Hoan/VNA

At a meeting on combating transboundary haze pollution, ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn stressed the importance of continuing efforts to address the issue, which has caused significant economic , social and environmental losses in the region.

He reiterated that the AATHP – signed 23 years ago – remains the region's bedrock policy framework.

Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn outlined three key approaches: promoting implementation of existing policies, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and expanding communication, education and public awareness initiatives.

He called for a “whole-of-society approach” and empowerment of ASEAN’s youth, warning that transboundary smoke pollution remains a persistent challenge and is likely to increase due to climate change and the region’s socio-economic development.

In his speech at the conference, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh highlighted Vietnam's achievements in environmental protection and climate change response, with many indicators showing clear improvements.

Vietnam currently ranks 51st out of 165 countries and territories in terms of sustainable development. Vietnam has proactively proposed and participated in many ASEAN environmental initiatives, including contributing 12 ASEAN Heritage Parks, the highest in the region, and actively promoting dialogue on energy transition, carbon markets and circular economy.

Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh attended the AMME-18 Conference in Langkawi (Malaysia). Photo: Bui Hoan/VNA

In the context of increasingly serious climate change, natural disasters, biodiversity loss and environmental pollution, Vietnam's environmental leaders have sent a strong message to ASEAN member countries by calling on the bloc to take stronger and more substantial actions together.

Specifically, countries need to strengthen regional cooperation mechanisms, link national strategies with common ASEAN frameworks; mobilize large-scale green finance, develop regional carbon markets and accelerate the transition to a circular economy and clean energy; propose joint initiatives on ecosystem restoration, forest and marine conservation, and protection of endangered species.

At AMME-18, delegates approved 6 new ASEAN Heritage Parks, bringing the total number of parks under the bloc's conservation to 69. Notably, Vietnam has 3 national parks recognized at this event, namely Pu Mat National Park (Nghe An), Dong Nai Cultural and Nature Reserve and Xuan Thuy National Park (Ninh Binh).

The meetings also noted progress in developing the ASEAN Strategic Plan on the Environment Post-2025 (ASPEN) and the ASEAN Climate Change Strategic Action Plan (ACCSAP).

These two plans will serve as a guideline for policies and monitoring of ASEAN's future cooperation efforts on environment and climate change.

Regarding the ongoing dialogues with partners such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and the European Union (EU), delegates welcomed the Joint Statement on the ASEAN-Japan Mutually Beneficial Partnership on Environment and Climate Change, as well as the ASEAN-EU Work Programme on Environment and Climate Change 2025-2026.

In addition, the parties reached consensus on holding the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the AATHP in Vietnam in 2026 and the 22nd session in Myanmar in 2027.

These decisions demonstrate the continued and strong commitment of ASEAN countries to cooperate, share and jointly address environmental challenges, towards a common vision of a sustainable ASEAN Community.

PV (synthesis)

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/viet-nam-co-3-vuon-quoc-gia-duoc-cong-nhan-la-cong-vien-di-san-asean-moi-519856.html