Nghe An (VNA) – Lessons and experiences that APEC membereconomies have withdrawn through their natural disaster fight and response,especially in applying advanced science and technology, have been shared at theongoing 11th Senior DisasterManagement Officials Forum held in central Nghe An province.

Talking with Vietnam News Agency reporters on the sidelines of the event, TakeshiYonezawa, Deputy Director-General for Disaster Management Cabinet Office, saidthat Japan and Vietnam share many similarities in natural disastervulnerability.

He highlighted Japan’s preventive measures such as strengthening the resilienceof its infrastructure such as roads, bridges and public works, and improvingthe efficiency of forecast.

Besides, Japan has learned about the way people get information and forecast onnatural disasters so as to provide them with forecast in a fastest manner.

Highlighting that Vietnam should pay due attention to the community’spreparedness for disaster response for Vietnam, Yonezawa shared that Japan hasheld training courses targeting children, aiming to raise their awareness andpractice in coping with disasters.

Japan is willing to continue working with Vietnam in natural disastermanagement through the Japan International Cooperation Agency by sendingexperts to support the Southeast Asian country.

[AP🦄EC senior ܫofficials seek ways to cope with disaster risks]

Meanwhile, Bernado Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV, Director of the PolicyDevelopment and Planning Service under the Office of Civil Defence of thePhilippines, said that there are about 20 typhoons hitting the Philippines eachyear with very strong ones.He said that his country is adjusting its structure to strengthen the authorityof the disaster response agency, while concentrating on mitigation andpreparedness.

“We have focused on early warning through SMS, while developing a network forearly warning. We have also invested a lot in technology and also people.”

Ambassador Phillip Gibson, Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Management from theNew Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, emphasised the fundamental significanceof technology application in disaster management.

“We need to prepare for the disasters, manage the response and recovery. Areally important element is being prepared. To be prepared, we have to knowwhat the risks are, and for that we need really good science and technology,”he said.

He also lauded Vietnam’s idea in holding the forum, which he described as agood chance for APEC members to learn from each other.

Nguyen Quoc Hiep, Vice Director of the Vietnam Academy for WaterResources’ Centre for Water Resources Software, said that one of thedifficulties that Vietnam is countering is the data transmission technology, asthe country is sending data through the existing mobile network which has yetto cover all areas of the country, especially some remote areas with high risksof natural disaster such as flash flood and landslide. The system is alsovulnerable to weather conditions such as storm.

He revealed that Vietnam is working to upgrade the technology, using the satellitesystem that is more reliable, thus expanding coverage.

Within the two-day forum, participants will also discuss developing solutionsfor information infrastructure operation in mitigating natural disaster risks.

Established in 1989, APEC with 21 membereconomies represents 39 percent of the world population, 57 percent of theworld GDP and 47 percent of the total trade.-VNA