In his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in Hanoi on November 10, Steer discussed the WB plan for member countries’ activities to respond to climate change and proposals on the institution’s assistance to Vietnam from funds set up by the WB and co-donors.

Deputy PM Hai spoke highly of the WB’s recent achievements, saying that the institution plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable poverty reduction in developing countries and promoting global trade, particularly food security, renewable energy development and environmental protection.

He hailed Steer’s cooperative efforts in his earlier capacity as WB resident director in Vietnam, from 1997-2002.

The Deputy PM expressed his wish that the WB would continue to help Vietnam seek aid sources and technical assistance, since Vietnam is among countries most at risk from climate change and rising sea level.

Hai took this opportunity to thank the WB for providing a loan worth US$70 million to the programme on climate change (Phase I).

He said he wants the WB to consider soft loans to projects relating to coastal protective forests, construction of a tidal dyke system and enhancement of flood control in vulnerable urban cities and central provinces.