The ministers of Singapore and Brunei have expressed confidence that the warm bilateral ties and close working relationship between their countries would strengthen cooperation in environment and water resource management.
The Ministry of Development of Brunei and Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said this in a joint statement at the Sixth Meeting of Brunei Darussalam-Singapore Cooperation on Environment under the Annual Exchange of Visits.
The meeting was held in Brunei Darussalam on Wednesday.
Brunei’s delegation was led by Minister of Development Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman.
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, led the Singapore delegation.
The ministers reviewed and exchanged views on environmental cooperation in areas such as solid waste management, air quality and radiation monitoring, water resource management and transboundary haze pollution.
There has been increased collaboration in the sharing of knowledge on public, people and private sectors outreach and partnership efforts.
Both sides have also launched activities, such as joint exchanges, technical visits and training on waste minimisation, air quality monitoring, water resource management, radiation protection, participation in the Climate Science Experts Network, as well as a course under the Regional Haze Training Network (RHTN) framework.
The ministers noted that officers had benefited from the sharing of experience and expertise.
They agreed that such collaborations should continue.
Both countries will also continue to nurture their youths on environmental education through the exchange of youth environmental programmes.
Singapore will host the 7th Brunei-Singapore Annual Exchange of Visits in 2013.
