Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has called on nations worldwide to share common responsibility in protecting the Earth and cope with climate change.

At the 16 th International Conference on the Future of Asia in Tokyo, Japan, on May 26, Deputy PM Hai emphasised the urgent need for each nation and the region to enhance adaptation, mitigate impacts of climate change and seek a sustainable economic development model.

Coping with climate change requires not only the efforts of a single nation but also global joint activities in terms of adaptation and mitigation, he said.

He spoke of the impacts of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan which have greatly influenced not only the country and but also the world in various fields.

Construction and development achieved over many years can disappear in a disaster unless there were accurate forecasts and timely measures to cope, Hai said.

He noted that disasters and environmental challenges would hinder socio-economic development and threaten national and regional sustainability unless appropriate measures were put in place.

According to the Deputy PM, Vietnam has over the past years devised policies and taken measures to cope with climate change in its sustainable development strategy.

The nation has provided financial assistance to businesses in environmental protection and coping with climate change, he said./.