Vietnam to host ASEAN conferences on science, technology

Vietnam will host and chair the 14th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST-14) and the 62nd Meeting of ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology ( COST-62) in southern Ho Chi Minh City from Nov. 21 to 26, reported local Vietnam News on Thursday. The main agenda of AMMST-14 and COST-62 will focus on enhancing scientific and technological cooperation within the ASEAN towards building an ASEAN Community by 2015 based on the three pillars: ASEAN Political and Security Community (APSC), ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). Participants will review results of scientific and technological cooperation programs among ASEAN nations since the 6th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology ( IAMMST) held in Krabi, Thailand last December; discuss the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology (APAST) for 2012-2017, with six flagship programs approved by ASEAN members and implemented till 2015. As ASEAN COST Chair for the 2011-2012 term, Vietnam continues to boost scientific and technological cooperation between ASEAN nations in the context of the bloc's deep integration in the areas of politics, economy, socio-culture, and science and technology. The event will provide Vietnam an opportunity to affirm its role and status in the international arena since the country successfully performed its role as 2010 ASEAN Chair, said the report. Other issues of special interest will also be shared among participants, including food security till 2013, early warning system to minimize natural disasters' damage, bio-fuels, climate change from now till 2015, and implementation of Krabi Initiative, "Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for a Competitive, Sustainable and Integrating ASEAN." Plans to hold the International Techmart 2012 in the third quarter of 2012 in Vietnam's capital Hanoi will also be reviewed. Since its admission to ASEAN, Vietnam has actively joined the bloc's activities, including scientific and technological cooperation. The country has fulfilled its obligation as an ASEAN member and contributed fully to the ASEAN Science Fund (ASF). As of March 2011, the country contributed one million U.S. dollars to ASF's total fund of 10.5 million U.S. dollars, said the report.