Can Tho seeks support from Switzerland in climate change adaptation

Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee Tran Viet Truong and Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass at the reception. (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho (VNA) – Chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee Tran Viet Truong asked for continued support from Switzerland for localities in the Mekong Delta to adapt to climate change while hosting Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass on April 19.

As the city is facing saltwater intrusion and sea level rise, Can Tho has cooperated with experts and scientists to explore suitable plants and animals to restructure the agricultural sector for better adaptation, he said.

The official also called for Swizerland's continued collaboration in the fields of health, education and training and exchange of experts in areas of mutual interest such as clean energy and aquaculture.

According to the city leader, Can Tho has received support from Swiss partners for non-governmental organisation (NGO) projects related to education and health.

For official development assistance (ODA) projects, Switzerland has assisted the implementation of the third component of the Can Tho Urban Development and Resilience Project, financed by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). The total capital of the project is 254 million USD, of which 250 million USD comes from the World Bank and the rest from SECO. A number of completed works under the project are very useful for the city's development. Among those, the embankment along Can Tho River and Cai Son - Muong Khai embankment help with flood control in the city’s urban core area.

For his part, Ambassador Thomas Gass said that Switzerland attaches great importance to the relations with the Vietnamese locality, adding that Can Tho is considered the main economic engine of the Mekong Delta region.

The city has been facing a number of challenges like other cities, therefore, it is necessary to complete the Can Tho Urban Development and Resilience Project soon, creating conditions for investors to explore investment opportunities in the Mekong Delta city, the diplomat said.

He also said that Switzerland will share its capacity and experience with Can Tho in dealing with those challenges./.