Secretary of the Can Tho Party Committee Nguyen Van Hieu (R) and Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski (Photo: VNA) Hieusaid Vietnam is currently the 10th largest trading partner ofAustralia, which in turn ranks seventh among trading partners of the SoutheastAsian nation. The two countries have also strengthened cooperation in climatechange response and energy transition.
Thisis a solid foundation for Can Tho and the Mekong Delta in general to enhancepartnerships with Australia, he noted.
Thecity views applying science and technology to production and businessactivities, especially agriculture, as a breakthrough step, the official said. It welcomes and will create the best possible conditions for Australianenterprises to explore investment opportunities in this regard.
Hewent on to say that Can Tho is also stepping up infrastructure investment tocope with flooding and erosion while taking various measures to adapt toclimate change, so it also wishes to boost cooperation with foreign partners inthe field.
Inaddition, the local leader also called for collaboration in training healthworkers, especially in terms of cancer treatment.
Forhis part, Goledzinowski said that since 2000, the Australian Government hasinvested 650 million USD in the Mekong Delta to help upgrade infrastructure, boostinvestment attraction and manpower training, and foster innovation. It has also carried outthe Mekong - Australia Partnership programme, focusing on water resourcesecurity, energy security, and climate change response, with assistance totalling94.5 million AUD (62.2 million USD).
Underthe Vietnam - Australia strategic partnership, he noted, his country willpromote cooperation with Can Tho via the Australian Centre for InternationalAgricultural Research to develop hi-tech farming.
TheAustralian Government has also invested 200 million USD in Vietnam, mostly forclimate change response and sustainable growth in the Mekong Delta, theambassador said. He expressed his hope that the two countries will further reinforce ties in hi-tech agriculture adapting to climate change./.
VNA
