Deputy PM holds bilateral meetings on sidelines of UN 2023 Water Conference

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha (L) and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. (Photo: VNA)

New York (VNA) – Deputy Prime MinisterTran Hong Ha had bilateral meetings with many foreign leaders on the sidelines of the UN2023 Water Conference, which is taking place in New York from March 22-24.

In a meeting with King of the Netherlands Willem-AlexanderClaus George Ferdinand, Ha hailed the King's initiatives and efforts in organising andco-hosting the conference, following the first of its kind in 1977.

The Deputy PM expressed his hope that the Dutchroyal family and the King himself will continue supporting the development ofthe Vietnam-Netherlands relations, including the Netherlands’ financial supportand technological transfer to Vietnam in green transition, renewable energy,water resources management and climate change response.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand. (Photo: VNA)

The King, in reply, noted his willingness to assistVietnam in green transition, including the effective use and management ofwater resources.

Ha also met with UN Secretary-General AntónioGuterres, during which the Vietnamese Deputy PM called for more support fromthe UN in technical consultation, know-how, finance and technology, to help Vietnam achieve sustainable development goals(SDGs), respond to climate change and ensure water security.  

He also suggested the UN assist Mekong River Basincountries in ensuring the sustainable use and management of water resources andraising climate change response capacity.

For his part, Guterres described Vietnam as an outstandingmodel and a reliable partner of the UN, noting that its progress and strongcommitments to climate change response should be duplicated for other countriesto follow.

The UN will promote the reform ofinternational economic and financial institutions in order to better guaranteeinterests of developing countries, he pledged.

Talking to US Secretary of the InteriorDebra Haaland, Ha suggested the US enhance its support to Vietnam in buildingand managing water resources database and early-warning system, and settling waterissues in the Mekong Delta, while stepping up collaboration in renewableenergy, education and social welfare.  

Haaland stressed that the US regards Vietnam as animportant partner in the region, and committed to further helping Vietnam inwater resources management, biodiversity conservation, and education andtraining.

Meeting with Singaporean Minister for Sustainabilityand the Environment Grace Fu, Ha suggested the two sides build a plan on specificcooperation activities, particularly coordination in the implementation of commitments regarding climate change and water, and encourage Singaporean investors inVietnam to use cutting-edge, low-carbon technologies.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Singaporean Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu. (Photo: VNA)

For her part, Fu congratulated Vietnam on itsachievements, especially its efforts in sustainable development, greentransition and climate change response, and agreed to strengthen cooperation innatural resources management, climate change response and energy transition.

At the meeting with Indian minister of drinking waterand sanitation Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, the Deputy PM said Vietnam and Indiashould foster cooperation and exchange experience in water resourcesmanagement, climate change response, natural disaster warning, hydrometeorologyand green energy.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Indian Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Photo: VNA)

Shekhawat expressed his hope that the two sides willeffectively carry out the signed cooperation agreements, especially those relatingto water resources, climate, and natural disaster and flood warning./.

VNA