Vietnam hosted the Fourth Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment held in Hanoi, Vietnam on 20 November 1998. The Meeting was attended by Ministers in charge of the Environment from Indonesia, HE. Dr. Panangian Siregar, Malaysia, HE. Datuk Law Hieng Ding, Philippines, HE. Mr. Antonio H. Cerilles, Singapore, HE. Mr. Yeo Cheow Tong, Thailand, HE. Mr. Suwit Khunkitti, and Vietnam, HE. Mr. Prof. Chu Tuan Nha. HE. Mr. Vilaivanh Phomkhe, Ambassador of Lao PDR to Vietnam, HE. U Khin Soe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy of Myanmar to Vietnam, HE. Mr. Immanuel Robert Inkiriwang, Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN also attended the Meeting. The Meeting was chaired by HE. Mr. Prof. Chu Tuan Nha, Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment of Vietnam.

The Meeting was held in an Informal setting. The Ministers exchange views on a wide range of issues regarding ASEAN environmental cooperation. These included Transboundary Haze Pollution, restructuring of ASOEN Working Groups, the Hanoi Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN Vision 2020, and Vietnam's initiative on ASEAN Environmental Forum.

The Ministers expressed their appreciation to the ASOEN Haze Technical Task Force (HTTF) for their continuous dedication and efforts in addressing the transboundery haze pollution problem in the ASEAN region. In this connection, the Ministers also conveyed their gratitude to the donor agencies and other international organizations for the financial and technical assistance provided to ASEAN in the implementation of the Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP). In order to address the haze issue in a more cost effective manner, the Ministers agreed that in the future, both the Sub Regional Fire-Fighting Arrangements (SRFAs) for Sumatra and Borneo can meet together at the same time and that Singapore will be invited to participate in the meetings of the SRFAs for Borneo as well.

The Ministers commended ASOEN and the ASEAN Secretariat for taking the initiative recently to restructure the ASOEN's Working Groups in order to provide more focus and effectiveness in ASOEN's activities. The new ASOEN subsidiary bodies now consist of a Haze Technical Task Force and three working groups on nature conservation and biodiversity, coastal and marine environment and multilateral environmental agreements.

The Ministers provided their inputs to the Environment and Sustainable Development Section of the Hanoi Plan of Action to implement the ASEAN Vision 2020 Statement and the Hanoi Declaration, two documents which will be issued at the conclusion of the 6^th ASEAN Summit to be held in Hanoi in December 1998. In this connection, the Ministers also requested ASOEN to prepare a detailed Strategic Plan of Action for ASEAN cooperation in the environmental sector for the period 1999-2004, consistent with the overall direction and thematic areas in the Hanoi Plan of Action. This includes environmental education, information, and public awareness and participation.

The Ministers supported Vietnam's initiative an the establishment of the ASEAN Environmental Forum and entrusted ASOEN to further elaborate on the concept and its timing. The Forum will serve as a platform for the governments, private sectors, and the people of ASEAN to meet and share experiences on the ways and means to achieve sustainable development. The Ministers welcomed Vietnam's proposal to host the First ASEAN Environmental Forum to be held in Vietnam in 1999.

The Ministers expressed their support for the candidature of Mr. Suphavit Piamphongsant from Thailand for the post of Regional Director at the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and Pacific.

The Ministers agreed to convene an informal meeting again in 1999 at a venue to be determined.