TEHRAN, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that international cooperation is necessary to tackle environmental issues like dust and sand storms.
Rouhani made the remarks on the International Conference on Combating Sand and Dust Storms, which kicked off in Iran's capital Tehran earlier in the day.
"Environmental issues are regional and global concerns," he said, adding that fighting dust and sand storms requires careful planning, investment and collaboration at regional and international levels.
Rouhani pointed out that it is governments' responsibility to elevate the environmental standards for humanitarian reasons. He hoped that the ongoing event in Tehran would offer constructive solutions to environmental problems, particularly dust and sand storms.
"Preserving environment tops Iranian government's agenda, who has the honor of saving Lake Urmia (in the northwest of Iran) from turning into a catastrophe," he said.
Over 30 regional and overseas officials and experts will attend the conference in Tehran from July 3-5.
The participants include ministers, senior officials and experts, international resource managers as well as experts from regional and international organizations including UN entities.
Two meetings will follow the opening session at the ministerial level that will produce the final communiqué, known as Tehran communiqué, in which international and regional cooperation will be addressed.
Besides, four technical meetings will be held following the opening session.
