Hanoi(VNA) - The 38th Conference of the ASEAN Federation of EngineeringOrganisations (CAFEO), with the theme “Fostering initiatives and actions by AFEOto build a sustainable and prosperous ASEAN Community”, opened online onNovember 25.

In his address,Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that in response to securityissues such as diseases, natural disasters, and cyber-crime, ASEAN must focuson boosting its members’ capacity in terms of technical infrastructure andhuman resources.

Engineers andtechnicians have made significant contributions to the region’s economy,infrastructure, and scientific and technological development in recent years.

He hoped theconference will identify solutions and make recommendations that are helpful toAFEO member organisations and the governments of ASEAN nations.

The VietnameseGovernment will continue creating the most favourable conditions possible forlocal and regional engineers and technicians to engage in cooperationprogrammes and initiatives of AFEO and ASEAN member nations, the Deputy PM said.

According toNghiem Vu Khai, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Science and TechnologyAssociations and head of the conference’s organising board, the gathering aimsto confirm the commitments of the AFEO in realising the ASEAN Community’svision toward 2025 and the UN’s 2030 agenda on sustainable development, viastrengthening the role of engineers in meeting sustainable development goals,initiating high-quality technical cooperation schemes, and promoting the use ofdigital technology in order to build a connected, fair, and prosperous ASEANCommunity.

Hosted by Vietnam,the conference features workshops on topics such as transportation,environmental engineering, disaster response, the role of engineers in ASEAN’ssustainable development, and the role of ASEAN’s female engineers amidchallenges brought about by COVID-19.

A ceremony washeld to present titles to individuals who have shown great dedication to theengineering field and certificates to professional engineers from across thebloc.

The closingsession will take place on November 26.

CAFEO is heldannually by the 10 ASEAN member states on a rotating basis. Established in1982, the federation is made up of various engineering institutions in theregion./.