Addressing the 3rd Conference on Sustainable Development of the Mekong Delta, Adapting to Climate Change, in Can Tho City, on Saturday, Minister Ha said that after 3 years of implementing Resolution 120, a fundamental change has been reported in awareness, thinking and action of all levels, sectors and localities in the Mekong Delta region. People and businesses have actively responded, while support has been mobilized from international organizations and development partners, he added.
The resolution is a major breakthrough, shaping the sustainable development strategy of the Mekong Delta as a whole, at the same time, integrating with the long-term vision and aspirations of a prosperous Mekong Delta with people being put at the center.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha told the conference, “After more than 3 years of implementing the Resolution, the Mekong Delta has strongly transformed with progresses in both thinking and action, moving from passiveness to actively adapting to the impacts of change climate and considering floods, salt water, and brackish water as resources for economic development. Livelihoods and people's lives have been gradually improved, the Mekong Delta development picture is increasingly adorned with many bright colors.”
Assoc. Prof, Dr. Le Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Climate Change - Can Tho University, said that over the years, localities and people in the Mekong Delta have changed their perception to adapt to climate change. The three-crop intensive farming of rice has been reduced and quality has been focused on. The coastal provinces have shifted to the shrimp-rice model that brings economic benefits many times more than purely rice cultivation.
Carolyn Turk, Country Director of the World Bank in Vietnam, said that bringing regional planning into practice will still be a challenge, requiring efforts of the Government and localities with an effective execution plan. She emphasized that the World Bank in Vietnam would like to start to support the implementation of the Regional Plan and continue to support the implementation of Resolution 120 by calling for the Government's cooperation in organizing the Mekong Delta Forum 2021 once the Regional Plan is approved.