The World Bank (WB) will cooperate with Vietnam to ensure that progress made in living standards over past years continues and the country achieves sustainable economic development consistent with a Green Growth Strategy.

WB Vice President Rachel Kyte made the statement at talks with the Vietnam National Committee on Climate Change headed by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in Hanoi on August 25.

Vice President Kyte said the WB wants to help the Government build a comprehensive low-carbon emission development orientation and stands willing to financially back the nation to that end.

Vietnam is actively restructuring the economy and renew its growth model, utilizing its potential and advantages to improve national competitiveness and effectiveness. A Green Growth Strategy is of great consequence and plays a decisive role in national sustainable development, he added.

During the talks, the two sides discussed challenges and difficulties for Vietnam in coping with climate change and outlined a number of measures to address climate change issues and raise the nation’s role at international forums on climate change.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang said during visit to Vietnam, Vice President Kyte and her entourage made a fact-finding tour of Ben Tre to better understand the situation in Vietnam.

Vice President Kyte is scheduled to meet with State and Government leaders to announce important policies in support of Vietnam in the near future.

WB studies climate change adaptation in Mekong Delta province

Vice President of the World Bank Rachel Kyte toured the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre on August 24 to study the impact of climate change and local efforts to cope with the issue.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ben Tre is one of the most vulnerable provinces in Vietnam to the impact of environmental changes.

Floods, damaged dykes and sea level rise have posed a lot of difficulties to the local lives and manufacturing activities, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee reported at a working session with the WB Vice President the same day.

However, with the assistance of the government and the WB, Ben Tre has undertaken counter measures, including the building of a 31km long sea dyke in Ba Tri district and a water supply plant which together with an available facility can supply clean water for over 2,000 poor households.

The province has also conducted regular educational campaigns to raise public awareness of the issue while developing farming models that are adaptive to climate change.

The official asked for more assistance from the bank to carry out several major projects, particularly a 100-km sea dyke to protect residents in Binh Dai and Thanh Phu districts, a water plant to serve four districts of Cho Lach, Mo Cay Nam, Mo Cay Bac and Thanh Phu, and the planting of 831 hectares of protective forests in the coastal areas.

Recognising the necessity of climate change resilience projects, the WB Vice President said she will discuss with the government measures to continue helping the province and other localities in the delta to cope with the issue.

During her trip to Ben Tre, the WB leader also visited a model farm combining rice cultivation and shrimp raising in Ba Tri district and several islets where land erosion is occurring as a consequence of climate change.

VOV/VNA