ASEAN energy ministers have pledged to joint efforts in addressingclimate change issues through energy cooperation towards a green andlow-carbon economy.

The commitment was affirmed in a joint statement released at the 28 thASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM 28), themed “Energy and ClimateChange”, which concluded in Da Lat city of the Central Highlandsprovince of Lam Dong on July 23.

According tothe statement, the ministers also affirmed their commitment to building acommon region on energy in line with the ASEAN Plan of Action forEnergy Cooperation (APAEC) for 2010-2015.

Theyemphasised the importance of voluntary cooperation on civil nuclearenergy development in the region and the necessity of early implementionof projects to link electricity lines in Southeast Asia in orderto stabilise and share power sources in the region.

They also stressed the need for further cooperation in building gas provision infrastructure for ASEAN countries.

Regarding the bloc’s energy cooperation with dialogue partners andprivate sectors, the statement says that international partners andorganisations also play an important role in realising the 2010-2015APAEC goals and in helping ASEAN move closer to a model of “Low Carbon -Green Growth”.

The statement brings out a messagethat ASEAN should tighten energy cooperation with the East Asianregion, China , Japan and the Republic of Korea , with a focuson the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and civil nuclear energydevelopment.

The statement applauds cooperationand opportunities for cooperation in energy with Russia and the USwith several specific programmes which were agreed during the firstconsultation meetings between ASEAN and the two partners.

The ministers agreed that effective energy cooperation in the publicand private sectors will be consolidated from both sides. Theyencouraged the more active and effective participation of the privatesector in the 2010-2015 APAEC.

According to the statement, the AMEM 29 and related meetings will be held in Brunei in 2011./.