Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, the Director-General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and Vietnam's permanent representative to WMO, as well as the Vice President of the WMO Regional Association II for Asia (RA-II), led the Vietnamese delegation. The delegation also included Dr. Đặng Thanh Mai, the Deputy Director-General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and Vietnam's meteorological advisor to WMO, along with other members.

The World Meteorological Congress is the highest governing body of WMO and has been held regularly every four years since its inception in 1951. The congress aims to determine general policies and approve WMO's strategic plan, as well as elect key positions within the organization.

PROFESSOR. DR. TRẦN HỒNG THÁI HAS BECOME THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ASIAN METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY

During this meeting, the World Meteorological Congress conducted elections for the President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the appointment of the WMO Secretary-General.

As a result, Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, the Director of the National Center of Meteorology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the President of the Asian Meteorological Society (RAII), was elected as the President of WMO for the term 2024-2027. Ms. Celeste Saulo, the Director of the Argentine Meteorological Agency and Argentina's permanent representative to WMO, was appointed as the WMO Secretary-General for the term 2024-2027.

Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, the Director-General of the National Center of Meteorology in the United Arab Emirates, has been elected as the new President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Ms. Celeste Saulo, the Director of the Argentine Meteorological Agency and Argentina's permanent representative to WMO, has been elected as the WMO Secretary-General for the term 2024-2027.

According to WMO regulations, Professor Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, the Vice President of the WMO Regional Association II for Asia (RA-II), will assume the position of Acting President of RA-II and become a member of the WMO Executive Council. The Acting President of RA-II will directly oversee the organization until the election of the RA-II President for the term 2024-2027.

The WMO Regional Association II for Asia (RA-II) is an organization within WMO that includes Vietnam and 34 other WMO member countries in the Asian region. Vietnam has been a part of RA-II since becoming a member of WMO. In 2019, Vietnam's representative was trusted with the role of Vice President of RA-II, and in 2021, they were re-elected as Vice President of RA-II.

Many nations have congratulated Professor Dr. Trần Hồng Thái on his new role as the Acting President of RA-II ahead of the WMO Executive Council election meeting.

The new Acting President of RA-II, the Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Professor Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, along with the delegation members, participated in the 19th session of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Congress held in Geneva, Switzerland.

AFFIRMING VIETNAM’S ROLE AND POSITION IN THE WORLD MEREOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL COMMUNITY

From May 25th to May 31st, a Vietnamese working delegation led by Professor Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, the Director-General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and Vietnam's permanent representative to WMO, as well as the Vice President of the WMO Regional Association II for Asia (RA-II), participated in discussions and exchanges on various topics at the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). These discussions covered annual activity plans, budget allocations for WMO for the term 2024-2027, early warning initiatives for all, policies, resolutions, and technical standards related to Earth observation system programs, the global basic observing network, and improvements in technical observation activities.

In addition, the Vietnamese delegation also participated in the Science and Technology Day. During this event, they focused on discussing and reaching agreements regarding the implementation plan for the Global Weather Research Program, the Global Climate Monitoring Research Program, the evaluation of reference terms of the Research Board, and discussions about strategies to enhance training capacity within WMO.

Chairman of WMO (second from right to left), WMO Secretary-General (third from right to left), Deputy WMO Secretary-General (first from right to left), Assistant WMO Secretary-General overseeing Cg-19 (first from left).

At the meeting of the World Meteorological Organization's Hydrology Council, the Vietnamese delegation participated in the election of the President and Vice President. They discussed the key activities and the Research Activity Report of the Hydrology Council for 2020-2022, the plan for implementing the World Weather Research Program for the 2024-2027 phase, the vision and strategy of the WMO in hydrology, and reported on the activities of climate and environmental weather services, observational networks, infrastructure, and information systems. They also discussed the outcomes and activities from the United Nations' 2023 water conference and the WMO's contributions to the Water and Climate Alliance. Additionally, they reviewed ongoing and planned hydrological projects, global hydrological measurement support facilities, the role of water resource management in the water-energy-food ecosystem, empowering female hydrologists, flood management partnerships, and integrated drought management programs.

In addition to actively participating in the activities of Cg-19, the Vietnamese delegation has affirmed its role and position in the meteorological and hydrological activities within the WMO community. This has also presented a valuable opportunity for Vietnam to enhance its collaborative development efforts with other nations in the field of meteorology and hydrology.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation, Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, met and exchanged views with the WMO Secretary-General, Professor. Petteri Taalas.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation, Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, met and had discussions with the Assistant Secretary-General of WMO, Mr. Wenj Zhang.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation, Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, met and exchanged discussions with the head of the Lao delegation, Mr. Outhone Phetluangsy.

The head of the Vietnamese delegation, Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái, met and exchanged views with the head of the Chinese delegation, Mr. Zhenlin Chen.

ACTIVELY AND PROACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN BILATERAL MEETINGS

On the sidelines of the Cg-19 Conference, the Vietnamese delegation actively participated in numerous sideline meetings and encounters with WMO leadership, heads of member delegations, and engaged in various programs and projects, collaborating with countries such as Finland, South Korea, Laos, Norway, France, Saudi Arabia, and Algeria. These collaborations were aimed at implementing WMO's strategic objectives for the 2024-2027 term and fostering cooperation with other nations in the field of meteorology and hydrology.

Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái and the Director of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Roar Skålin, met and collaborated.

On May 29^th, 2023, as part of their participation in Cg-19, the Vietnamese delegation led by Professor Dr. Tran Hong Thai, the Director-General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and Vietnam's permanent representative to WMO, as well as the Vice President of the WMO Regional Association II for Asia, held a technical meeting with the Norwegian Meteorological Institute led by Mr. Roar Skålin, the Director of the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

During this meeting, both parties discussed the roles, functions, and tasks, as well as the organizational structure and personnel of their respective meteorological agencies. The aim was to share and learn from each other's experiences in operational meteorological forecasting, with a particular focus on marine forecasting, wave forecasting technology, storm surge and monsoon wind forecasting, pollution dispersion forecasting technology, and the provision of public and private meteorological services for disaster prevention. They also exchanged information on techniques and resources related to the assessment of wind energy potential.

During this meeting, the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute jointly signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in meteorological forecasting and warning.

The Vietnamese delegation and the French delegation had a technical exchange on the sidelines of Cg-19.

During the meeting and technical discussions with the French delegation, led by Ms. Virginie Schwarz, the Director of Météo-France, Vietnam and France exchanged insights into the roles, functions, tasks, organizational structures, and personnel of their respective meteorological agencies, particularly those serving disaster risk reduction and societal needs in meteorology and hydrology.

They also assessed their cooperation during the previous period in climate ecosystem development activities and discussed future collaboration directions, focusing on the development of climate service strategies, the evaluation of renewable energy potential, and other mutual areas of interest.

Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái and Ms. Virginie Schwarz, the Director of Météo-France, met and collaborated during their discussions and technical exchange.

At the invitation of Ms. Kirsti Kauppi, the Ambassador of Finland to Geneva, the Vietnamese delegation participated in a high-level meeting along with the Finnish meteorological agency delegation led by Dr. Jussi Kaurola, Finland's permanent representative to WMO.

During the meeting, both sides evaluated the strong diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Finland and their collaborative efforts in meteorology and hydrology over the past 15 years. They emphasized their focus on enhancing early warning systems, technology transfer, and capacity building for Vietnamese meteorological personnel through Finnish-supported projects in Vietnam. These projects included the Modernization of Meteorology in Vietnam Project (Phase I, II, III), the Upgrading of Rainfall Measurement, Storm and Lightning Forecasting Project at the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting, and the ongoing project to further upgrade the capability for rainfall measurement, storm and lightning forecasting at the National Center for Meteorological and Hydrological Forecasting.

Professor. Dr. Trần Hồng Thái presented a souvenir gift to Ms. Kirsti Kauppi, the Ambassador of Finland to Geneva.

At the forum, both sides expressed their desire to continue promoting the development of projects aimed at enhancing early warning systems and capacity building in meteorology and hydrology. They also discussed plans for future cooperation, including initiatives such as "Enhancing Upper-Air Meteorological Observation Capacity for Disaster Prevention and Socio-Economic Development in Vietnam" and the "Air Pollution Forecasting Project in Vietnam."

Vietnam and Finland have agreed to further strengthen and improve the management, operation, maintenance, calibration, and equipment of the automatic observation system. They also plan to collaborate on the development and application of Industry 4.0 technologies in meteorological observation and climate monitoring, as well as deepening training in data harmonization and ensemble forecasting and providing training on impact forecasting.

The Vietnamese delegation and the Finnish delegation took a commemorative photo together with the Ambassador of Finland to Geneva, Kirsti Kauppi.

The Vietnamese delegation met and exchanged technical information with the Algerian delegation led by Mr. Brahim Ihadadene, the Director-General of the Algerian Meteorological Agency. During the meeting, both sides provided brief information about the roles, functions, tasks, organizational structures, and personnel of their respective meteorological agencies, especially those related to disaster risk reduction and societal needs in meteorology and hydrology.

On this occasion, both parties expressed their willingness to collaborate and share experiences and achievements in forecasting and warning against natural disasters. They aim to contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of both countries in the future.

Professor Dr. Trần Hồng Thái and Mr. Brahim Ihadadene, the Director-General of the Algerian Meteorological Agency, met and collaborated during their discussions and technical exchange.

On May 31, 2023, the Vietnamese delegation held a technical meeting with the delegation from Saudi Arabia, led by Mr. Ayman Salem GHULAM, the Director-General of the Saudi Arabian Meteorological Agency.

During the meeting, both sides discussed the common contributions of RA-II (Asian Region) to WMO's management and operations, focusing on priorities for RA-II during the 2024-2027 period, activities to enhance the development of the Regional Association's Partnership Strategy, priority research and innovation areas for RA-II, and the pilot project on Public-Private Engagement (PPE) for smart meteorological services in major cities. They also discussed the establishment of climate status reports for the Asian region.

The Vietnamese and Saudi Arabian delegations exchanged experiences and insights on various shared interests and reviewed their contributions to RA-II. This included initiatives such as the "Green Initiative" for the Middle East region and their roles in leading Southeast Asian members through the management of the Dangerous Weather Forecasting Center and the Landslide and Flood Warning Center.

Professor Dr. Trần Hồng Thái and Mr. Ayman Salem GHULAM, the Director-General of the Saudi Arabian Meteorological Agency, met and collaborated during their technical meeting.

On May 31, 2023, the Vietnamese delegation held a technical meeting with the South Korean delegation, led by Mr. Hee-Dong Yoo, the Director-General of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA). He is also the Permanent Representative of South Korea to WMO and a member of WMO's Executive Council.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed their strong bilateral cooperation over the past years. They emphasized the ongoing implementation of the 6th Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Vietnam and South Korea, which was extended in 2021. This MOU covers various areas of collaboration, including weather radar and satellite cooperation, ODA-funded projects, GAW (Global Atmosphere Watch) station activities, greenhouse gas measurement technology sharing, weather forecasting, capacity-building support, data quality control, and the application of IoT and AI in meteorological observation, data information, forecasting, and disaster warning. The Director-Generals of both agencies also discussed plans for the 7th bilateral meeting, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.

Professor Dr.  Trần Hồng Thái exchanged views on their work and collaboration with Mr. Hee-Dong Yoo, the Director-General of the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA).

During the period from May 22 to June 2, the Vietnamese delegation led by GS. TS. Trần Hồng Thái, the Director-General of the General Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, and the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to WMO, as well as the newly elected Vice President of the Asian Regional Association for the World Meteorological Organization (RA-II), actively participated in the 19th session of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Congress. The Vietnamese delegation was proactive in engaging in high-level meetings, bilateral discussions, and seeking comprehensive partnerships in the field of meteorology and hydrology. Vietnam's proactive approach has garnered the attention and support of the international WMO community.

With his new role as Vice President of the Asian Regional Association, GS. TS. Trần Hồng Thái is expected to further assert the role and position of Vietnam's meteorological and hydrological sector within the global meteorological community. He will play a crucial role in contributing to Vietnam's sustainable development and strengthening its ties with international partners in the field of meteorology and hydrology.

Tu Quyen - Van Hau