Representatives of 17 Asian countries will gather at a "First Governmental Meeting on Urban Air Quality Management in Asia" to be held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from Dec. 13 to 15.

"Air quality has now become an important issue in Asia and according to monitoring results air pollution in cities has already passed the tolerable limit," deputy assistant for pollution control of moving sources of emission at the office of Indonesian environment minister, Ridwan D Tamin, said on Wednesday.

He said the activity was supported by the United Nations Center for Regional Development and the United Nations Environment Program.

"It is hoped the meeting will produce an agreement for an integrated and synergic management of air quality in Asia," Antara news agency quoted Tamin as saying in Yogyakarta.

He said harmonizing emission standards, conducting reliable monitoring of air quality and promoting use of clean fuels were among the efforts to improve regional air quality.

"The agreement will later be included in a 'Yogyakarta Statement' which will become a joint statement of representatives attending the meeting," he said.

He said the event would be held in conjunction with the 4th Workshop on Better Air Quality (BAQ) which was the largest regional event on city air quality management.

"The BAQ workshop is a forum where air experts, academics and policy makers exchange experience and views on air quality management," he said.

He said initially the BAQ workshop was a local event in Hong Kong in 2001 but later in Bangkok in 2002 it turned into a regional and international event.

"The BAQ workshop was then held in Manila in 2003 and in India in 2004. Due to increasing enthusiasm shown by participants it was then decided to hold it biennially and this year it will take place in Yogyakarta from Dec. 13 to 15," he said.

Source: Xinhua