Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s construction sector isenhancing cooperation with international partners to help promote green growth.

In its action plan on green growth, theconstruction sector aims that half of big- and medium-sized cities in Vietnammeet green city standards by 2030. This plan is part of efforts to realise thenational green growth strategy.

Deputy Minister of Construction Phan Thi My Linhsaid although cities have been paying attention to green growth, boosting urbangreen growth is still a new issue in the country, and there remains a big gapbetween expectations and what has been achieved.

The construction sector consumes a lot of naturalresources and energy while emitting a considerable volume of greenhouse gases.Therefore, short- and long-term solutions are necessary, as is cooperation withforeign partners to minimise its impacts on the environment, she said.

As one of the countries most vulnerable toclimate change, Vietnam has been working to improve its technicalinfrastructure’s capacity for climate change response, produce environmentallyfriendly building materials, apply energy efficient solutions to buildings andreinforce houses to cope with natural disasters.

These are fields in which Vietnam has greatdemand for cooperation with foreign partners, said Pham Khanh Toan – Directorof the Department for International Cooperation under the Ministry of Construction.

Among the ministry’s joint projects with foreignpartners, a project on energy efficiency in the building sector was carried outfrom 2014 to 2017 as part of the USAID Vietnam Clean Energy Programme. Itbenefited Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho.

This project aimed to help save energy, reduceCO2 emissions, promote energy saving activities and support low-emissiondevelopment.

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) hasprovided technical and financial assistance for water service companies inVietnam to build criteria for these services. It has also helped the country todesign a decree on public-private partnership and implement an urbanenvironment programme since 2012.

The ADB recognised Vietnam’s efforts and achievementsin associating development with green growth.

It said Vietnam is experiencing rapidurbanisation, and most of its GDP is contributed by cities. However,urbanisation has yet to meet expectations while the country is highlysusceptible to climate change.

Between 2016 and 2020, the bank has agreed tosupport Vietnam with 600 – 800 million USD for climate change response andgreen city development.-VNA