Southwest region boosts cooperation with Australia, Germany
The Steering Committee for Southwest Region had a working session with the Australian and German ambassadors to Vietnam in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 28, with a focus on stimulating further engagement among the sides.
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At the meeting, Son Minh Thang, deputy head of the committee, informed his guests that the region plans to build an information centre in the Mekong Delta between 2017 and 2018 in a bid to enhance intra-regional connectivity.
He said climate change impact is a pressing issue facing the region that needs international assistance, particularly from Australia and Germany, to tackle.
He continued reviewing cooperation between the region and the two countries over past time.
According to Thang, a marine zone management programme, sponsored by the German international cooperation agency GIZ, has introduced farming models as well as water and budget management methods to coastal localities in the Mekong Delta, helping them adapt to climate change.
Meanwhile, the delta has, for many years, benefited from Australian-funded projects in education, poverty alleviation, health and climate change adaptation.
Thang spoke highly of the outcomes of these projects and expected sides involved to continue working effectively in the future.
He requested Germany and Australia consider providing technical and financial assistance for the building of the Mekong Delta information centre.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said the Australian Government pays a particular interest in helping the Mekong Delta manage its water resources, and has sponsored to ensure the supply of water from upstream Mekong River to the area.
Australia has also supported the region in infrastructure development, he said, adding that there have been joint projects between Can Tho University and Australian research institutes.
He pointed to the success of the Vietnam-Australian company in applying Australian technologies in shrimp farming, thus increasing productivity by up to 40 times.
Chittick expected Australia and the southwest region will soon form partnership.
German Ambassador Christian Berger said he is impressed by the region’s development plan in the coming time and the network formed by collaboration between the GIZ, banks and other international organisations here.
