Jakarta (ANTARA News) - As ASEAN moves toward the realization of the ASEAN Community in 2015, and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, efforts are also underway to ensure corresponding commitment and support in advancing measures outlined in the Roadmap to an ASEAN Community, said officials at the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Agriculture and Forestry (33rd AMAF).

Sundram Pushpanathan, the Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Economic Community, highlighted several achievements of the Meeting, the ASEAN Secretariat said in a press statement here on Tuesday.

The meeting discussed cross-cutting issues in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries - involving the enhancement of food security, responding to the impact of Climate Change, cooperation on sectoral and priority issues, and strengthening partnerships with dialogue partners, international organisations, and private sectors.

One is the formalisation and signing of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Agreement.

"This agreement is very important in our work to respond to disaster and provide humanitarian assistance, particularly among ASEAN plus China, Japan, and Korea," he said.

The Ministers have also supported a Special Ministerial Event to commemorate ASEAN and International Year of Forrest 2011, as well as the First AMAF-Private Sector Dialogue on Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

"The side event on forestry leveraged the profile of the ASEAN Cooperation in Forestry, and recognised the support of various partners in achieving ASEAN key initiatives, while the dialogue with private sectors was the first to be conducted in the region. The Ministers agreed that this dialogue was very important in bridging the needs and expectations of both public and private sectors," said Pushpanathan. (F001)

Editor: Ade P Marboen
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