Fruit haverst in Can Tho (Illustrative image: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – The Steering Committee for Southwest Region had a workingsession with the Australian and German ambassadors to Vietnam in the MekongDelta city of Can Tho on November 28, with a focus on stimulating furtherengagement among the sides.
At themeeting, Son Minh Thang, deputy head of the committee, informed his guests thatthe region plans to build an information centre in the Mekong Delta between2017 and 2018 in a bid to enhance intra-regional connectivity.
He said climatechange impact is a pressing issue facing the region that needs internationalassistance, particularly from Australia and Germany, to tackle.
Hecontinued reviewing cooperation between the region and the two countries overpast time.
Accordingto Thang, a marine zone management programme, sponsored by the Germaninternational cooperation agency GIZ, has introduced farming models as well aswater and budget management methods to coastal localities in the Mekong Delta,helping them adapt to climate change.
Meanwhile,the delta has, for many years, benefited from Australian-funded projects ineducation, poverty alleviation, health and climate change adaptation.
Thang spokehighly of the outcomes of these projects and expected sides involved tocontinue working effectively in the future.
Herequested Germany and Australia consider providing technical and financial assistancefor the building of the Mekong Delta information centre.
AustralianAmbassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick said the Australian Government pays aparticular interest in helping the Mekong Delta manage its water resources, andhas sponsored to ensure the supply of water from upstream Mekong River to thearea.
Australia hasalso supported the region in infrastructure development, he said, adding thatthere have been joint projects between Can Tho University and Australianresearch institutes.
He pointedto the success of the Vietnam-Australian company in applying Australiantechnologies in shrimp farming, thus increasing productivity by up to 40 times.
Chittickexpected Australia and the southwest region will soon form partnership.
GermanAmbassador Christian Berger said he is impressed by the region’s developmentplan in the coming time and the network formed by collaboration between theGIZ, banks and other international organisations here.-VNA
VNA
