At the meeting (Source: VNA)The session was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy PrimeMinister Trinh Dinh Dung and Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Environment MelanieSchultz.
In his speech opening the function, Deputy PM Dung expressedhis delight at the growing bilateral relations in the past 44 years and notedthe elevation of the ties to strategic partnership on climate change adaptationand water management.
The two countries have turned climate change challenges intocooperation opportunities in agriculture, water management andeducation-training, he added.
Dung took the occasion to thank the Dutch Government for helpingVietnam’s Mekong Delta region design the path for sustainable development,better manage local natural resources, and reduce the region’s vulnerability.
He said Vietnam welcomes further financial and technicalassistance from the Netherlands to address urgent issues, such as the buildingof a national database on environment and natural resources, the prevention of droughtand saline intrusion, the management of water supply and drainage, the use ofunderground water and the erosion and sinking of river banks and coastal lines.
Minister Melanie Schultz lauded positive outcomes of jointprojects between the two countries, particularly those carried out last year,which have contributed significantly to the mitigation of climate changeimpacts on the Mekong Delta.
Highlighting the importance of the Mekong Delta Plan (MDP),she affirmed that the Netherlands is willing to support and transfertechnologies to help develop the region sustainably, and join hands withVietnam in tackling climate change challenges.
She pointed to the fact that a number of Dutch companies,which are experienced in dredging and erosion prevention, and researchinstitutes want to form partnerships with Vietnam.
At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the implementation ofagreements reached at the previous meeting in March last year, and discussed indetails orientations to carry out the MDP, the NICHE (Netherlands Initiativefor Capacity Development in Higher Education) and ORIO (facility forinfrastructure development) programmes, and projects related to bilateral cooperationin business, trade and agriculture, and links between their localities.
The two sides highlighted the success of the MDP, especiallythe two projects funded by the World Bank, which helped promote the region’ssocio-economic development in a sustainable manner.
They stressed that the MDP is an example for regionalcountries to learn from, and affirmed the inseparable connection betweenagriculture and water as well as between agriculture and the future of the MekongDelta.
The meeting agreed on further measures to promotesustainable development in connection with rural development in the region, andcreate opportunities for regional residents to access knowledge, experience andtechnologies.
The two sides agreed to create favourable conditions forpreparing financial plans for projects.
The meeting heard that the NICHE and ORIO programmes of theNetherlands in the field of education importantly contributed to implementing astrategic partnership agreement between the two countries, helping Vietnamimprove its capacity in water management, climate change adaptation,agriculture and maritime transport.
Regarding trade links, the two sides focused theirdiscussion on the implementation of business and trade cooperation projects.
Participants also hailed cooperation between Ho Chi MinhCity and Rotterdam in adapting to climate change, as well as the partnership betweenHanoi and Amsterdam in improving the environment in To Lich river, and inmaking a water resources planning for the Hong and Thai Binh rivers’ basin for2020-2039 with a vision to 2050.
They underlined the great potential for Vietnam and theNetherlands to continue cooperation within the programme of water andagriculture geographical data in Vietnam.
The two sides agreed to discuss and promote new cooperationplans on the basis of Vietnam’s potential, and traditional strengths of theNetherlands.
Relevant ministries, sectors and localities of bothcountries will proactively deploy programmes and projects related to climatechange adaptation, towards turning the cooperation into an outstanding modelfor cooperation among countries worldwide in the field.
Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung and Minister Melanie Schultzsigned the minutes of the meeting, agreeing that the 7th event will be held inHanoi next year.-VNA
VNA
