Seoul Declaration strengthens regional cooperation
![<b>Joint Declaration: </b>Japan, Republic of Korea, and China agreed to strengthen their disaster management partnership.](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_16_9/public/35348_largeImage.jpg?itok=u6SIAstR)
SEOUL, 1 November 2013 – The Heads of disaster management from China, Japan and the Republic of Korea have agreed to boost regional cooperation in the key areas of technology, information management and training programmes.
The 3rd Trilateral Heads of Government Agency Meeting on Disaster Management issued a Joint Declaration emphasizing the vital role of regional cooperation to reduce disaster risk.
The Vice Minister of Civil Affairs of China Gu Zhaoxi, Senior Vice-Minister of the Cabinet Office of Japan Nishimura Yasutoshi, and Administrator of National Emergency Management Agency of the Republic of Korea Nam Sang-ho announced a series of collaborative initiatives.
First, the three countries will explore better compatibility of information on hazard profiles, disaster losses and disaster recovery.
Second, joint research and development projects will be initiated to identify intensive risk so that approaches to disaster response and recovery are better informed.
Third, practical lessons on addressing underlying risk factors and increasing disaster risk because of climate change will be shared.
Fourth, regular Table Top Exercises will be jointly designed to help the countries prepare for hazards such as earthquake and typhoon.
Fifth, partnership with regional and global education and training institutes in the three countries will be strengthened as part of efforts to develop joint disaster management programmes for government officials.
Sixth, the trio agreed to cooperate ahead the Asia Regional Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand, in June 2014 as well as the 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, in Sendai, Japan, in March 2015.
The three countries also agreed to work with other partners, including the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, to strengthen management of disaster data.
The Administrator of National Emergency Management Agency of the Republic of Korea, Nam Sang-ho, affirmed a bright collaborative future for the region. “The three countries, Republic of Korea, Japan and China, will continue their cooperative efforts for disaster risk reduction,” he said in his closing remarks.
It was agreed that Japan would host the 4th trilateral meeting in 2015.