Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha and Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and officials held a tripartite coordination meeting on Transboundary smog issue among Myanmar, Thailand and Laos through video conferencing on 7 April.
At the meeting, Thai Prime Minister stressed the following points –
- As the issue harmed social and economic sectors of the peoples from three countries, they all needed to join hands in carrying out the best solution.
- Air pollution caused by forest fires affects the health and other aspects of life of the people of the three countries and it is necessary to prevent such harmful effects.
- Moreover, it is necessary to launch awareness-raising campaigns about buring farmland and wastes among the public.
- It is believed that our three countries will be able to step up cooperation with other ASEAN members to address the transnational air pollution. It is necessary to take measures in accordance with Chiang Yai project.
- Our countries are required to cooperate mutually to solve transnational air pollution and challenges must be overcome.
Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone stressed the following points –
- The air pollution is a common problem to be addressed by three countries. The Lao government has been implementing the plans to prevent air pollution.
- Preventive measures are being taken based on experiences of Myanmar and Thailand. Moreover, Laos is taking the measures in accord with the 2023-24 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
- Any country needs to prevent the forest fire and air pollution with the farsightedness.
State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing stressed the following points –
- Transboundary Haze Pollution is a problem among Thailand, Laos and Myanmar for several times. The forest fire which started in December 2022 has been worsening smog problems in GMS countries.
- ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) stated the density of smog triggered by forest fire slightly happened in eastern Myanmar on 1 April 2023 and it worsened in northern Thailand and southern Laos.
- ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) predicted that the hot and dry climatic condition may cause in May this year in GMS countries, with high air pollution along borders. Hence, Myanmar will cooperate with regional countries in levering up the Transboundary Haze Pollution issues.
- Myanmar places an emphasis on implementation of the Chaing Rai Action Plan 2017 in cooperation with regional countries so as to control Transboundary Haze Pollution.
- Myanmar has formed the national environmental conservation committee to reduce fire hotspots and control air pollution while implementing the action plans.
- At present, Myanmar will enhance cooperation measures in order to take information about fire based on ground condition, establish air quality survey device and control transboundary haze pollution, forest fire and other kinds of fire.
- Myanmar pledged to take fire preventive measures, put out the fire and carry out rehabilitation, raise the awareness for reduction of forest fire danger under monitoring and continuously cooperate with regional countries in trans-boundary haze pollution measures.
The Senior General then made two proposals: First, it is necessary to reduce hill-side cultivation in border areas of the three countries and in the same way to implement highland farming and take measures for fertilizer supplies; Second, the issue of waste material is huge, especially in border areas. Therefore, it is necessary to discard waste materials properly and to utilize technologies. To solve the air pollution issues as soon as possible, the three countries are required to exert relentless efforts.
Source: Myawady Daily Newspaper (8-4-2023)
- Air pollution caused by forest fires affects the health and other aspects of life of the people of the three countries and it is necessary to prevent such harmful effects.
- Preventive measures are being taken based on experiences of Myanmar and Thailand. Moreover, Laos is taking the measures in accord with the 2023-24 ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution.
- ASEAN Specialized Meteorological Centre (ASMC) predicted that the hot and dry climatic condition may cause in May this year in GMS countries, with high air pollution along borders. Hence, Myanmar will cooperate with regional countries in levering up the Transboundary Haze Pollution issues.
- Myanmar has formed the national environmental conservation committee to reduce fire hotspots and control air pollution while implementing the action plans.
- It is necessary to reduce hill-side cultivation in border areas of the three countries and in the same way to implement highland farming and take measures for fertilizer supplies and it is also necessary to discard waste materials properly and to utilize technologies.