The World Bank’s Special Envoy on climate change Andrew Steer is on avisit to Vietnam to assess impacts of climate change on theSoutheast Asian country.
In his meeting with Deputy PrimeMinister Hoang Trung Hai in Hanoi on Nov. 10, Steer discussed the WBplan for member countries’ activities to respond to climate change andproposals on the institution’s assistance to Vietnam from funds setup by the WB and co-donors.
Deputy PM Hai spoke highly of theWB’s recent achievements, saying that the institution plays anespecially important role in achieving sustainable poverty reduction indeveloping countries and promoting global trade, particularly foodsecurity, renewable energy development and environmental protection.
He hailed the strong support from Steer in his earlier capacity as WB resident director in Vietnam , from 1997-2002.
TheDeputy PM expressed his wish that the WB will continue to help Vietnamto seek aid sources and technical assistance, since Vietnam isamong countries most at risk from climate change and sea level rise.
Haitook this opportunity to thank the WB for its provision of a loan worth70 million USD to the programme on climate change (Phase I).
Hesaid he wanted the WB to consider soft loans to projects relating tocoastal protective forests, construction of a tidal dyke system andenhancement of flood control in vulnerable urban cities and centralprovinces./.