Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh said that with the theme "Cooperation to overcome challenges together," the event affirms Vietnam's determination in cooperating with countries, agencies of the U.N. and ASEAN, and international organizations in raising global awareness of mitigating disaster risks and improving adaptive capacity and responding more effectively to natural disasters in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh speaking at the event (Photo: baochinhphu.vn) |
The Party, State, and Government, local authorities, and socio-political organizations of Vietnam always pay attention to disaster prevention and control, he stressed.
Vietnam has actively joined international organizations and forums related to natural disaster prevention and mitigation, Thanh said, adding that Vietnam always is an active member and effectively contributes to ASEAN's joint efforts in disaster risk reduction and prevention.
However, there are still many limitations related to forecast, warning, resources, equipment, infrastructure, forces, application of science and technology, and post-disaster recovery, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic poses a requirement to effectively respond to risks when they occur at the same time with natural disasters.
The Vietnamese Government always considers natural disaster prevention and control the top task of the whole political system in order to protect the people's lives, health, and property, Deputy PM Thanh said.
Vietnam highly values and hopes that countries, organizations and international friends continue to accompany and support Vietnam in early access to advanced science and technology, and resources to promptly respond and quickly overcome impacts and consequences of natural disasters.
Ekkaphab Phanthavong, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General acknowledged Vietnam's efforts, saying that Vietnam is a very active member in ASEAN.
Marco Toscano-Rivalta, Chief of the Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) hailed the Vietnamese Government’s adoption of the national strategy for natural disaster prevention and control.
Source: VNA