Vietnam hosting 12th EST forum in Asia

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The forum is hosted by the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Construction, the Hanoi People’s Committee, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, and the UN Centre for Regional Development.

According to the Ministry of Transport, the event draws 335 delegates, including 213 foreigners from 25 Asian nations.

There will be 15 main events and a fact-finding tour of smart city in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on October 31.

Themed "Achieving Smart and Resilient City through Low Carbon and Intelligent Transport System", the forum will represent the role and responsibility of Vietnam as a UN member in joint efforts to develop an environmentally sustainable transport system.

It offers an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm and improve its role and position in transport cooperation, as well as raise public awareness of sustainable development goals related to environmental protection and promote the images of the land and people of Vietnam to international friends.

EST12 will focus discussions on policies on environmentally sustainable transport, integration of land use and urban development plans; transport services and sustainable transport infrastructure development; application of advanced technologies; and solutions on financial institutions and mechanisms and partnerships in building safe, smart, adaptive and sustainably developing cities and communities.

Delegates will talk ways for Asian nations to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially the Sustainable Development Goal 11.

In addition, there will a discussion between the Government, private sector and donors on how to tap investment opportunities for sustainable transport development; and a review of implementation of programmes, initiatives, proposals and achievements of nations, and practical lessons in the Bangkok Declaration (2010-2020).

Participants will debate a strategy to continue realizing the Bangkok 2020 Declaration by 2030, together with changing the urban transport appearance in Asia in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Established by the UN in 2005, the forum is an important part of the Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) initiative. The annual event aims to boost Asian countries’ awareness of environmental protection in transport sector, as well as build safer, more beautiful and sustainable urban areas and communities via effective development policies, plans and programmes.

It has 25 member countries namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, India, Iran, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Malpes, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Russia and Vietnam.