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A ceremony to launch the official logo of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Disaster Relief Exercises (ARF DIREX) - 2015 took place in Myanmar's capital of Nay Pyi Taw Sunday on the occasion of the holding of the 21st ARF, part of the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM).
The event recognizes that collective effort is needed to ensure a timely and effective disaster relief response, and to support the vision to create a disaster resilient and safer community by 2015, said the ASEAN Secretariat.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi noted that East Asia has been frequently hit by natural disasters in recent years, threatening the people's lives and properties within the region. China would like to make joint efforts with Malaysia and ARF members to prepare well the ARF's 4th disaster relief exercises.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato Sri Anifah Aman said, "Natural disasters have disproportionate impacts on human development in the region. We cannot stop natural disasters, but we can arm ourselves with the knowledge and the skill on how to deal with them".
China and Malaysia will co-host the exercise which will be held in Kedah, Malaysia in February and it is also the first time for China to co-host the exercise abroad to support East Asia's relief work.
The exercise is a biennial event to be participated by all ARF members including China, Russia, India, the United States, Australia and the European Union.
ASEAN established ARF in 1994 which became a consultative platform for promoting open dialogue on political and security cooperation in the Asia Pacific region.
