RCARO sought establishing possible partnerships to solving regional environment issues with IMO/GEF (Geological Environment Facility) and ADB (Asian Development Bank). The Director of RCARO, Mr Kun-Mo Choi, visited Manila based GEF/UNDP/IMO Regional Programme Office and ADB (Asian Development Bank) Headquarters on 17 December 2004 and met with related staff for possible future cooperative partnerships. RCARO’s visit to the regional development and financial organizations aimed at increase understanding about RCA as well.

At the meeting with IMO/GEF, Dr Chua Thia-Eng, Regional Programme Director expressed their wish to establish a practical cooperative partnership with RCA in solving regional environment issues. IMO/GEF said they would welcome RCA’s participation in and contribution to GEF programme, in particular in the PEMSEA (Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) programme. RCARO reiterated that RCA has strong wish to contribute to solving regional problems based on its experience and capability. As a stepping stone, IMO/GEF suggested that RCA environmental experts would participate in the 2005 East Asian Seas Congress that will be held in March 2006 in China. He said that a separate session during the Congress could be organized for RCA. He also added that an exhibition explaining RCA achievements would be one good event of the Congress that could increase understanding about RCA.

Meanwhile, ADB (Cornie Huizenga, Head of Secretariat, Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities) expressed their wish that RCA would join in ADB’s ‘Clean Air Initiative’ that has been launched 3 years ago and now is in the practical action plan stage. The ADB will have a regional seminar on the Clean Air Initiative next year March in Manila. ADB hoped RCA air pollution experts would participate in the regional seminar to present RCA’s potentials. RCARO reminded that, in 1982, RCA first knocked the ADB door for possible financial contribution to RCA projects, such as food irradiation and medical and biological application of nuclear techniques however that proposition was not further implemented. ADB suggested an MOU would be necessary to identify possible cooperative activities with RCA.