Photo by: Heng Chivoan

Prime Minister Hun Sen, Nepal Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jose De Venecia III of the Philippines and Chung Eui-yong of South Korea join hands yesterday at an ICAPP meeting in Phnom Penh.

Speaking at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties yesterday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said Asian governments needed to address environmental and energy concerns if the continent was going to make this century “the century of Asia”.

In an opening address of the 6th General Assembly of ICAPP at the Council of Ministers building in Phnom Penh, the Premier said Asia’s economic rise needed to consider the environmental and energy threats posed by rapid development.

“We must ... find a fine balance between, on the one hand, the development needs of developing countries, especially the least developed countries and, on the other hand, the urgency to address climate change and energy security.”

Hun Sen said that Asia has grown increasingly more dependent on commercial energy – oil, gas, and coal – for its development.

He called on Asian countries to cooperate in the development of greener, more efficient energy sources.

“Green energy efficiency is vital,” he said.  “So are cleaner energy technologies, including advanced fossil fuel, and renewable energy technologies, which can create jobs, boost industrial development, reduce air pollution and help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.”

Last month, the Premier dismissed concerns that hydropower dams in China were causing low water levels in the Mekong River, and blamed the levels on global warming.

The ICAPP conference started on Wednesday and concludes tomorrow.

It has brought together 95 political parties from 4 countries, in an effort to promote cooperation and understanding between the continents’ parties.

At the conference’s opening, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gave a speech via video conference and praised ruling and opposition parties for engaging in cooperative dialogue.