The second meeting of the Vietnam – Netherlands Inter-Governmental Committee on climate change adaptation and water management took place in The Hague , Netherlands on November 28.

The event was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen.

The Dutch side presented the progress of the Netherlands Initiative on Capacity Development in Higher Education (NICHE) - Nufic programme and the UNESCO – IHE doctorate training course in the Mekong Delta, which will serve as a foundation to establish water research institutes in the future.

They agreed to help increase the capacity of Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment and discussed views on business development and establishing a business forum.

Additionally, Dutch experts presented preliminary recommendations for the Mekong Delta Plan (MDP) and the main outcomes of the project on developing Ho Chi Minh City towards the sea, thereby gathering opinions to finalise the MDP, furthering the HCM City development project as well as seeking out other long-term measures in response to climate change.

A joint project on water services and climate will start in early 2013. The MDP and a project on moving HCM City towards the sea are also expected to get underway in the period, the officials agreed.

A post-graduate education project majoring in water management, climate change adaptation and agricultural ecology systems in Vietnam will continue.

The countries agreed to increase bilateral trade and business exchange in water management. In particular, capital cities Hanoi and Amsterdam will enhance cooperation in water management, general environment in Hanoi and devise plans to respond to climate change in the Red River .

Following the meeting, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on dredging small-scale irrigation canals, maritime cooperation and waterway dredging./.