March 25, 2009 12:02 PM

Vietnam, China Boost Meteorological Cooperation

HANOI, March 25 (Bernama) -- Vietnam and China agreed upon a wide-range cooperation in the meteorological field for 2009-2010 at a meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday, Vietnam news agency (VNA) reported.

The cooperation ranges from forecasting weather, exchanging meteorological information, conducting joint scientific research at adjacent areas, to education and training.

The two sides will also share meteorological technologies, professional management skills, and join in forecasting, evaluating and monitoring weather in Asia.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Van Duc said meteorological cooperation is of extreme importance to socio-economic development of both Vietnam and China as the two countries share a common borderline and a water area.

Deputy Chief of the Chinese Bureau of Meteorology Xu Xiaofeng pointed to the need for the two countries' meteorologists to further boost their coordination in forecasting weather in Vietnam's northern area bordering China's Guangxi province, which often sees dangerous weather phenomena.

Xu affirmed that Chinese meteorologists would share their experience as well as statistics for the development of a meteorological monitoring network, automatic weather forecast stations and networking evaluating standards.

The two sides agreed to maintain operation of the Hanoi-Beijing hotline to serve the exchange of information in case of storms, low tropical depressions, torrential rain and droughts.

They decided to organise a Vietnam-China seminar on dangerous weather in China late this year to allow meteorologists and weather forecasters to share experiences and expertise alongside exchanging visits of experts in the field.

-- BERNAMA

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