Vietnam will host the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting for the first timein Hanoi from September 15-19, providing an opportunity for the countryto strengthen its cooperation with international partners in the field.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long made the announcement during a press conference in Hanoi on September 11.

Some 200 representatives of ASEAN member states, ASEAN+3 ( Japan ,China and the Republic of Korea ), the ASEAN Secretariat, and theUnited Nations, amongst others, will participate in the meeting thatwill discuss better healthcare in ASEAN from 2015 onwards.

Measures to address non-contagious diseases and enhance multi-sectoralcooperation on infectious diseases are top of the agenda for theplenary sessions.

Sustainable financing options forcombating HIV/AIDS and new contagious diseases, increasing healthinsurance coverage, and policy responses to aging will be addressedduring four sideline meetings.

The event provides achance for Vietnam to increase its standing in the region andpresent the achievements it made in the health sector, Deputy MinisterLong said.

The event is held once every two years on a rotational basis.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations includes Brunei ,Cambodia , Indonesia , Laos , Malaysia , Myanmar , the Philippines ,Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA