Concerted efforts for climate-resilient development of Mekong Delta

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue urged for stronger engagement of the business circle and people in sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta.

He also called for international donors and organisations to provide technical and financial support for the region and

stressed the need to enhance the role played by the Mekong River Commission and use Mekong River water resources in a sustainable manner for regional prosperity.

"It is essential to fully analyse challenges presented by climate change, the development process of the Mekong Delta and the use of water resources from upstream Mekong River while identifying short and long-term opportunities and forecasting major impacts on regional development.

Additionally, we should take heed to breakthrough reform policies and mechanisms to boost the transform and sustainable development of the region with a focus on mechanisms on land, tax, market construction, trade promotion, science-technology and human resources development," Hue said.

The Government, localities, domestic and foreign organisations, especially residents and enterprises in the Mekong Delta and surrounding localities, particularly Ho Chi Minh City need to define

priority projects, tasks and programmes to support climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta.

With one city and 12 provinces pning a total area of 3.94 million ha and a population of 17.5 million, the Mekong Delta plays an important role in the national economy. However, the region is one of the four deltas hardest hit by climate change and sea level rise, the Deputy PM noted.

This is one of the deltas that have the largest agricultural output in Southeast Asia and Vietnam, contributing 54% of rice output, 70% of aquatic production and 36.5% of fruit amount to the country. Up to 90% of rice exports and 65% of seafood shipments of Vietnam come from the region.

The Mekong Delta has suffered numerous severe impacts of climate change, sea level rise and extreme weather patterns resulting in limitations in the use of Mekong water resources, the regional development model and State management in the region.

Such impacts have posed huge challenges and threats to the development of the Mekong Delta, livelihoods and daily lives of people in the delta in particular and Vietnam in general, thus adversely affecting the development of the region and the world, particularly food security, he said.

During the two-day conference, participants focused their discussions on challenges, opportunities and solutions to transform the development model of the Mekong Delta; integrated planning, infrastructure development and regional coordination mechanism; sustainable agricultural development, irrigation infrastructure and natural disaster response; and human resources mobilisation and coordination.

What is achieved from the conference will serve as a foundation for the Government to issue a resolution on sustainable and climate-resilient development in the Mekong Delta in the coming time.