Can Tho (VNA) – International organisationsand development partners committed to supporting Vietnam in implementingprojects that make the Mekong Delta more resilient to climate change impacts.

The World Bank (WB) will coordinate with the Mekong RiverCommittee to assist Vietnam in devising a Mekong Delta Master Plan, which willidentify long-term solutions and strategy based on existing knowledge of and expertiseon the state of the delta, WB Vietnam Country Director Ousmane Dione told theVietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the “Conference on sustainable andclimate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam” held in Can ThoCity on September 26-27.

According to the WB official, the WB will also carry outthe Mekong Delta Integrated Climate Resilience and Sustainable LivelihoodProject, aiming to not only boost regional economic growth but also improveliving standards for local residents. In addition, it has been working with ministriesof Vietnam to build freshwater supply networks in seven southwestern cities andprovinces and to invite investment in developing inland waterborne transportand logistics for the Mekong Delta.

[PM calls for foreign support for Mekong Delta development]

Infrastructure development integrated with improvedlivelihoods and climate resilience will be an effective solution towardssustainable socio-economic growth for the delta, Dione said.

Louise Chamberlain, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) Country Director in Vietnam, said the UNDP will assist Vietnam inincreasing resilience capacity of people living on the banks of Mekong Riverthrough raising Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding and privateinvestment. It also proposed the Ministry of Construction and Ministry ofPlanning and Investment to establish a green climate fund, sourced frombusinesses and the government, to help vulnerable coastal communities adapt toclimate change, she added.

Australia is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in seekingsolutions for challenges faced by the Mekong Delta, Australian Ambassador toVietnam Craig Chittick said, noting that the country commits to provide Vietnamits methods for economical use of water resources in rural areas and effectivemanagement and use of water in the Mekong Delta.

Australia will also work with the University of Can Thoto share expertise in agriculture and technology to help farmers in the regioncope with impacts of erosion, saltwater intrusion, land subsidence and watershortage, he said.

Eric Sidgwick, Asian Development Bank (ADB) CountryDirector for Vietnam, revealed that the bank has included Vietnam in itsclimate change programme from 2016-2030 that has a total budget of about 20billion USD. Additionally, it will carried out an urban development project inthe Greater Mekong Sub-region in six areas, including transport infrastructure,he stated.-VNA