The Netherlands will share its experiences in coping with climate change with Vietnam, to help the country maintain its economic growth and reduce poverty.

The Dutch Vice Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Tineke Huizinga, made the pledge at a seminar on managing water sources and adapting to climate change held in Ho Chi Minh City on Oct. 8.

According to the Vice Minister, Vietnam and the Netherlands have many similar geological characteristics so they will be able to work together effectively when addressing rising sea levels caused by climate change, which particularly affects the poorest people in society.

On addressing the seminar, Nguyen Thanh Tai, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said that HCM City is seriously at risk because of the rising sea levels.

According to him, the city has carried out many programmes and solutions to minimise economic losses and social disorder in the future, especially socio-economic pressure caused by mass migration from the Mekong Delta region to the city due to the rise in the water level.

He expressed his wish to work closer with the Netherlands to effectively deal with any adverse impacts to ensure economic growth and social stability.

At the seminar, a letter of intent to set up an institute on climate change adaption and water resource management was signed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, HCM City’s People’s Committee, and the Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management.

Earlier, on Oct. 5, Vietnam’s Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Natural Resources and the Environment signed a memorandum of understanding with the Dutch ministry to step up cooperation on the management of coastal zones and river basins in the Mekong Delta./.