Conserving water resources offers more opportunities for cooperation than disputes, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has stated.
He
affirmed that Vietnam will prioritise the sustainable conservation
and management of water resources as it is an important part of the
nation’s 2011-2020 development strategy and the 2020 national strategy
on water resources.
Dung made the remarks in a
speech to open the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) workshop on water and
river basin management – a green growth approach – in the Mekong Delta
city of Can Tho on March 21.
Vietnam will
actively take part in and contribute to international efforts through
various cooperation levels, he said, adding that the nation pays due
attention to raising cooperation efficiency along the Mekong River .
However, he said challenges relating to water
resources have become more urgent due to the direct impacts the issue
has on every nation and its citizens.
He suggested
that conserving water resources in a sustainable manner be included in
every nation’s sustainable development and green growth strategy, and
combined with the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals.
ASEM should be more active in assisting and linking
its members’ regional and sub-regional programmes, he said, adding that
orientations should be planned so that ASEM’s activities contribute to
the international community’s sustainable management and development of
water resources.
“Only if joint and drastic actions are taken
today, can the predicted challenges be reduced or prevented,” PM Dung
emphasised.
According to forecasts, 1.8 billion
people could experience water scarcity and two thirds of the world’s
population will have difficulties accessing fresh water in 2025.
In
addition, the degradation of water resources will worsen due to rapid
urbanisation, industrialisation and extreme w eather conditions caused
by climate change.
At the two-day event, 150
delegates from 51 ASEM member nations and relevant organisations will
discuss water resources and sustainable development, food and energy
security, and improving the efficiency of Asia-Europe cooperation in
water resource management.
The participants are
expected to adopt a report detailing proposals to be submitted to the 11
th ASEM Foreign Ministers Meeting in India in November, 2013, and the
10 th ASEM Senior Officials Meeting in Belgium in 2014.-VNA