Hanoi Times - Vietnam has taken the initiative and been active in environmental protection and international integration, thus contributing to the cooperation between countries both regionally and globally for the common good. Vice Head of the Environment General Department Le Ke Son made the remark at a press briefing held in Hanoi o­n Oct. 3 to announce the country’s hosting of a number of regional environmental conferences in October. He said the East Asian Environmental Ministers’ Meeting, o­ne of the October events, will be convened in accordance with the idea put forward by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the East Asian Summit in Singapore in 2007. The conference will issue a joint statement regarding East Asian countries’ priorities for cooperation in dealing with climate change and protecting the environment. The statement will stress the importance of the exchange of information, experiences and technical assistance to develop environmentally-sustainable cities in the region. The participants will also discuss issues related to the preservation of biodiversity, the management of water resources, oceans and the rural environment, and the improvement of the public’s awareness of environmental issues. In addition to the East Asian ministerial meeting, other events include the 11th unofficial ASEAN Environmental Ministers’ Meeting, the 7th ASEAN plus three (the Republic of Korea , China and Japan ) Environmental Ministers’ Meeting, and the fourth Trans-boundary Haze Conference. These will take place in Hanoi from Oct. 6-11, with the participation of some 200 domestic and international delegates. An East Asian businesses’ forum o­n environmental protection and sustainable development, and a award ceremony to present award recognising environmentally-sustainable cities in ASEAN member nations will also be held during this time.