Vietnam, Japan sign far-reaching irrigation pact

During a bilateral meeting on August 8, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong and his Japanese counterpart Keiichi Ishii renewed their close bilateral relationship on the environment, climate change and energy.

Minister Cuong highlighted the commitment of the two nations to take strong action in irrigation management in the Mekong Delta, along the nation’s coastlines and throughout the mountainous regions of the northern part of the country.

To that end, he announced the two leaders have signed a far-reaching pact to improve irrigation and water management throughout the aforementioned regions by working through the Japan International Development Agency (JICA).

For his part, Minister Ishii noted the problem of water-logging and consequent extensive damage to agriculture crops and other segments of the economy are a common phenomenon in regions such as the Mekong Delta.

This cooperation accord will go a long way in minimizing those losses from floods and as well as other natural disasters by improving infrastructure and overall water management capabilities.