APEC senior officials recommend disaster response measures

Participants agreed to submit major recommendations to APEC leaders on boosting inter-regional cooperation and technological innovation for more effective response to natural disasters and recovery.

Tran Quang Hoai, Director of the Vietnam Disaster Management Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said, “Information and communication has been accessible to remote and mountainous areas. We are applying technologies to mitigate disaster risks. The Authority is considering the use of social media like facebook to keep the people and the disaster management agencies informed of happenings in disaster-hit areas for timely assistance and rescue missions.”

During the the two-day forum, officials from the APEC member economies also shared expertise in developing high technology infrastructure system as well as the application of advanced technology and science in dealing with new normal disasters.

They proposed reforming information supply and alert methods, while stressing the important role of management agencies in directing disaster response and recovery.

They also issued a Joint Recommendation on Renovating Science and Technology Cooperation to deal with new normal disasters, with a focus on addressing landslides in coastal areas, supper storms and tsunami, which will be submitted to APEC leaders later this year.