PM Hosts Conference on Climate-resilient Development Of Mekong Delta
VGP - The 3rd conference on climate-resilient and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta is taking place in Can Tho City this morning.
11:20
Concluding the Conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of the ideas and reports presented by ministers, local leaders and development partners earlier.
He affirmed the strategic importance of the Mekong Delta as this area accounts for 20% of the world's commercial rice exports but the region is facing critical challenges posed by climate change.
PM Phuc appreciated the great efforts of Mekong Delta residents who have contributed to ensuring global food security.
He emphasized that the quality of workforce and concrete actions of each ministry and each locality are decisive factors for sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta as what achieved over the past three years have been initial ones.
PM Phuc took the occasion to extend thanks to scientists, investors, development partners for the support and assistance for Viet Nam in realizing its development goals across Viet Nam, including the Mekong Delta.
10:00 AM
Discussions
As many as 13 leaders of Mekong River Delta and experts synthesized major outcomes of three-year implementation of Resolution 120 and put forward recommendations for the Government to further promote sustainable and climate-resilient development of the region.
World Bank Country Director Carolyn Turk speaks at the third conference on climate-resilient and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho City, March 13, 2021. Photo: VGP
9:20 AM
Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director in Viet Nam delivers a report on behalf of Viet Nam's development partners.
Turk commended that the Government’s Resolution 120, issued in November 2017, was truly a groundbreaking milestone, marking a departure from the orthodox climate defense approach to steering towards an “actively living with nature” paradigm.
The Resolution acknowledged that the impact of climate change with rising sea level, greater weather variability, and salinization have become the Delta’s new normal while providing an authoritative foundation for transforming the region’s development - from a small household farm and provincial perspective to an inter-provincial, delta-wide and transboundary one; from a short-term sectoral perspective to a long-term, multisectoral and integrated approach.
"During the period 2015-2020, we mobilized approximately US$ 2.2 billion for research and investment activities in the region, most of which aligned well with the Resolution 120. In partnership with government authorities at all levels, innovative pilots and large infrastructure investments have been implemented to bolster climate resilience, natural resources management and sustainability while fostering growth for people, rural areas, cities, provinces and the region", according to Turk.
Importantly, new perspectives, new evidence, new knowledge and relevant international experiences and expertise have been brought to the Mekong Delta for addressing its very complex challenges. Some highlights of our partnership include the preparation of the Mekong Delta Regional Master Plan, establishment of the Regional Coordination Council, launch of the Agricultural Transformation Program, upgrading the monitoring, data and decision support systems for the whole region, and updating spatially-based strategies for the Mekong Delta in key sectors such as agriculture and water, transport and connectivity, urban and construction, and sustainable energy development.
Looking ahead, the World Bank Country Director Better said coordination among the Delta provinces and cities, across central ministries, between central and provincial authorities and at the planning-finance-governance nexus will strengthen integrated planning, efficiency in budget execution, mobilization of financing, advocacy for policy changes and competitiveness.
It is also important that the Government continues the proactive and constructive engagement with other Mekong riparian countries for enhanced cooperation, said Turk.
She suggested the establishment of a sub-committee on flood management in the Upper Delta under the Regional Coordination Council to coordinate an effort to restore more than 9 billion m3 of lost flood absorption and aquatic habitat in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle and Plain of Reeds floodplains.
Up to 60,000 hectares of flood-based agriculture area could be phased in today with enabling value chain investments that would help transition intensive rice to flood-based agricultural systems which are up to 4 times more profitable, break pest-cycles, reduce pesticide use, and enable a further 96,000 hectares of dry season rice to shift to clean production.
9:10 AM
Secretary of the Can Tho City Municipal Party Committee Le Quang Manh briefed about the progress of the implementation of Resolution No. 120 in Can Tho City.
8: 52 AM
Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The delivers report on outcomes of three-year implementation of the Resolution 120 regarding transport development in the Mekong Delta.
In the 2016-2021, the Ministry has invested in 31 transportation projects and works with the total capital of about 88,963 billion.
Among the above projects, 14 have been upgraded or newly built, including a total of 281 km of national highways, massive bridges such as Co Chien, Cao Lanh, Vam Cong, Hoa Trung, My Loi, etc. 46.5km of navigation canals for large vessels to enter Hau River, phase 1, dredged 28km of Cho Gao canal route, phase 1 with the total investment capital of VND 41,474 billion.
Fourteen other projects are underway, including 720 km of national expressways and highways, My Thuan 2 Bridge, Rach Mieu 2 Bridge, Dai Ngai Bridge, large tonnage navigation canals for large vessels to enter Hau River and Cho Gao canal route with the total capital of VND 40,494 billion, 03 projects are going to be implemented with the total investment of about VND 6,995 billion .
Regarding waterways, investment has been made to upgrade six main waterways connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast region with the Mekong River Delta to reach the flow standard while Cho Gao Canal has been upgraded for 800-1,000 tonnage ships to take advantage of the tides.
Regarding investment capital for transport infrastructure development in the Mekong Delta in the next five years, the Ministry has prepared to finance 37 new projects in four sectors (road, maritime, inland waterways and aviation) with total investment of about VND182,713 billion.
The capital needed to complete 14 transitional projects is estimated at VND 16,110 billion.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong. Photo: VGP
8:39 AM
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong presented report summarizing outcomes of the implementation of the Resolution 120 in agriculture sector.
According to the ministry's report, the total rice cultivation area in the MRD is 4.19 million ha, accounting for 54.3% of country's area. Currently, the area for cultivation of new certified rice varieties accounts for 65%. It is expected that it will increase to over 75% by 2020, 90% by 2025 and 100% by 2030. Since 2000, the MARD has recognized the ratio of certified rice varieties, equivalent to approximately 70% (of which the certified varieties provided by companies and seed centers of about 75%, farm breeding system and seed exchange of about 25%).
For fruit trees, the the MRD currently has about 335.4 thousand hectares of fruit tree plantation, accounting for 36.3% of the country's area, including major varieties such as dragon fruit, mango, orange, grapefruit, rambutan, longan, durian, pineapple, etc., many of which have high yield, high quality, have been adapted to the MRD’s conditions and put into production to increase the export value and turnover. However, the number of elite fruit trees and gardens is very small, which is not enough to meet the need of mass production. Currently, Viet Nam has recognized only 30 official fruit tree varieties (orange DT2001, late longan HTM-2, early ripe orange CS1, Hylocereus Polyrhizus/red flesh dragon fruit TL4, avocado TA1, pineapple MD2, etc.) and 38 varieties for trial production (pineapple H180, Thanh Ha-1 guava, pineapple hybrid LD13, apple 05, etc.). Dragon fruit varieties LD1 and LD5 bred by Vietnam are grown in 16,500 hectares, about over 40% of the country's total dragon fruit growing area. The Euphoria Longana (yellow flesh longan variety) is the main variety resistant to the witches’ broom disease, accounting for 12% of the longan cultivation area.
In 2019, the Southern Fruit Institute recognized 2 varieties of hylocereus undatus (white-flesh dragon fruit) LD17 and LD18 (resistant to brown spots and early flowering); 1 hybrid longan variety LD19 (thick flesh, resistant to witches’ broom disease). The institute also introduced the salt-resistant grafted green grapefruit variety that can tolerate the salinity of 6-8o/oo and salt-resistant grafted mango variety that can tolerate the salinity of up to 10o/oo.
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. Photo: VGP
8: 23 AM
Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung presented a report on establishment of the Regional Coordination Council for 2020-2025 period.
The ministry has coordinated with the World Bank to study and propose a loan of USD 1.05 billion for “Development Policy Support (DPO) for the MRD” in the period 2021-2025 (hereinafter referred to as the DPO project) in order to mobilize resources for the MRD focusing on completing and changing policies and mechanisms associated with infrastructure investment as instructed by the Prime Minister in Directive No.23/CT-TTg dated September 5, 2019
The proposal and allocation of the additional USD 2 billion should comply with provisions of the Law on Public Investment No.39/2019/QH14, the Law on State Budget and meet principles, criteria and norms of additional investment capital from the state budget in the period of 2021-2025.
8:12 AM
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Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha. Photo: VGP |
After more than three years implementing the Resolution, the nature-based orientation has gradually proved to be efficient, creating a fundamental change in the awareness, rationale and actions of all levels, sectors and local agencies in the MRD with active participation of people and enterprises, and supports from international organizations and development partners. Although the implementation time has not been very long, there have been some remarkable achievements, specifically as follows:
1. Enabling institutions and policies to promote sustainable development in the MDR in a unified manner, with inter-regional connection to create synergy.
2. Moving from passive to proactive adaptation by enhancing climate monitoring capacity, early weather forecasting, and timely warning of natural disasters; transforming production and businesses towards utilizing natural strengths
3. Forming the development space, and infrastructure planning connecting within the region and with Ho Chi Minh City, the Southeast region.
4. Promoting public investment as seed capital to encourage the investment from private sector and the international community for sustainable development of the MRD
5. Strengthening scientific research, technology development, international cooperation, awareness-raising communication, training, and career transition for resource mobilization and economic restructuring.
6. Overall assessment, limitations, causes and challenges.
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivers opening remarks at the third conference on climate-resilient and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta. Photo: VGP
8:04 AM
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivers opening remarks
From left to right: Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung co-chair the third conference on climate-resilient and sustainable development of the Mekong River Delta, Can Tho City, March 13, 2021. Photo: VGP
At 7: 40 AM
Leaders and delegates entered the meeting room.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Tran Thanh Man, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung co-chair the conference.
The delegates watched a documentary film ‘Nature-based development enables the prosperity for the Mekong River Delta’ before Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh delivers opening remarks.
In an interview with the Viet Nam Government Portal ahead of the conference, UNDP Resident Representative Caitlin Wiesen spoke highly of important policies that have been introduced, including Resolution 120 and that focuses on the sustainable and climate resilient development of the Mekong Delta.
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The conference brings togethers Government leaders, leaders of several ministries, leaders of 13 localities in the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City, experts and representatives of development partners.
The conference will review three-year implementation of the Government's Resolution No. 120 on climate-resilient and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta.
