Ministers of ten Southeast Asian countries are gathering at the third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin 3) in Hanoi from December 6-10 to work out measures to boost mining.
The event has drawn the participation of experts and senior officials from three countries, namely China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, offering Vietnam a good opportunity to seek closer ties with other ASEAN member countries in the field of mineral cooperation and enhance its role in the regional community and international arena.
Participants are discussing ways to support the industrialization process in regional countries and boost trade and investment in mineral exploration within the bloc.
They are expected to facilitate the building of incentive policies on geology and minerals and expand cooperation in this field.
The delegates are also focused on the sustainable development of mining industry to ensure the safety and efficiency of mineral exploration.
According to Dr. Nguyen Van Thuan, Head of the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam (DGMV), Vietnam has thousands of mines, and huge reserves of precious bauxite and titan.
The mining sector makes up 25 percent of the State budget each year. Since 2000, it has contributed 10-11 percent of the country’s total GDP, generated jobs for thousands of workers and helped ensure national energy security, he said.
The AMMin is organized every two years by each ASEAN member in rotation.
Source: VNA/VOV