(VOVworld) - More than one hundred delegates representing foreign missions, ASEM officials and donors were in Hanoi on Monday to attend the ASEM meeting on climate change and natural disaster rescue and prevention.

Speaking at the opening session, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh reiterated Vietnam’s strong commitment to international cooperation in natural disaster preparedness. He said that calamities obstruct efforts to raise living standards and sustainable socio economic development: “Although human beings are not able to control unpredictable adverse natural phenomena, close cooperation and mutual support could help minimize human and property losses. Vietnam is actively engaging with the world community in its efforts to mitigate the impact of natural disasters.”

Delegates recommended practical cooperation within   ASEM to enable early natural disaster preparedness and rescue efforts.