The conference in Can Tho city on October 4 (Photo: VNA) The event was held both in person and via videoconference bythe Academy of Politics Region IV, the Can Tho University, and the Northumbria University of the UK.
Participants pointed out that the Mekong Delta holds a strategic positionand specially important role in terms of politics, economy, society, defence,and security.
Thelargest agricultural hub of Vietnam has a critical role to play in ensuringnational food security as it produces 50% of the total rice output, 65% of theaquaculture output, and 70% of all fruits in the country while contributing to95% of rice and 60% of fish export volumes. It also boasts some nature reservesand much potential for developing renewable energy like wind and solar energy.
Meanwhile,the region's terrain is relatively low and flat, making it highly vulnerable toclimate change, including sea level rise. Climate change impacts will be increasinglysevere, causing socio-economic losses and affecting sustainable development inthe region, experts said.
DrPhan Cong Khanh, Director of the Academy of PoliticsRegion IV, said the Party and State’s viewpoints on the sustainable developmentof the Mekong Delta in adaptation to climate change have been clearly demonstrated inmany documents, including the Government’s Resolution No 120/NQ-CP, whichstress respect for the law of the nature, adaptation to the nature, and environmentalprotection in socio-economic development.
Thosedirections have been carried out and proved fruitful in the Delta. However,there remains shortcomings in the enforcement of policies on natural resourceand environment management and climate change adaptation, he noted.
Expertspresented some effective management models in Vietnam and other countries asexamples, and suggested measures for sustainably developing the Mekong Delta inadaptation to climate change.
Theysaid it is necessary to have an effective mechanism for bringing into play therole of the community, including local residents and enterprises, adding that amulti-level governance model in which power is decentralised, responsibilityshared, and environment action committed could be useful.
Khanhsaid the development future of the Mekong Delta is depending much on theimplementation of policies on natural resource and environment management, exploitation,and use, as well as those on economic restructuring and growth model reform intandem with climate change adaptation.
Besides,promoting science, technology, and innovation, especially optimising achievementsof the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to tap into the region’s potential andadvantages in a way that accords with the law of the nature is also important to seekingnew impulses for sustainable development, he added./.
VNA
