| Lyna Mohamad |
THE 12th Meeting of Brunei-Singapore Joint Committee on the Environment under the Annual Exchange of Visits, instituted by the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Partnership in Environmental Affairs, took place at the Songket Ballroom of The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong yesterday.
Leading the Brunei Darussalam delegation was Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar. The delegates from Brunei comprised the Acting Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, and senior officials from the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Communications.
The Singaporean delegates were led by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli bin Masagos Mohamad, and comprised Permanent Secretary Albert Chua, and senior officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, National Environment Agency and PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency.
During the 12th Brunei-Singapore Annual Exchange Visits (BSAEV), the ministers reaffirmed the outstanding bilateral relations between both countries and reiterated their commitment to foster continual progress and deepen cooperation on environmental protection and management, environmental education and water resources management.
The ministers also welcomed the significant progress of collaborative activities between the two countries in the areas of solid waste management, air quality management, water resources management and environmental youth exchange programmes.
During yesterday’s meeting, both ministers also exchanged views on environmental issues such as sustainable consumption and production, and ASEAN cooperation on environment.
Both countries also reiterated their commitment to cooperate with other ASEAN member countries to advance regional environmental interests to achieve sustainable development and provide a healthy and clean living environment.
The ministers endorsed the continued efforts in waste management and environmental protection in both countries.
These include Brunei Darussalam’s recent extension of the ‘No Plastic Bag Every Day’ initiative from Thursdays to Sundays, in conjunction with Earth Day 2018 and the cleaning campaign for Kampong Ayer, as well as Singapore’s efforts in addressing e-waste.
Both ministers also welcomed the exchange of information on air quality management and monitoring, and supported the participation of youths from Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in both countries’ youth environmental programmes and also noted the successful conclusion of the technical exchange programme in the areas of water demand management and mechanisms for the procurement of new water infrastructure.
The meeting also saw both ministers affirming that the two countries will strengthen exchanges in water resources management through the sharing of knowledge, best practices and technological advancements in drainage and sewerage management, coastal protection, and water supply management.
The delegates also participated in friendly games organised to build camaraderie.
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