Can Tho (VNA)ꦗ – A working session between leaders of Can Tho and a delegation led by Daniel Stork, Consul General of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City, was held in the Mekong delta city on November 27 to discuss opportunities for expanding bilateral collaboration in agriculture, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

During the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Can Tho municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien reiterated the city’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the country's pledge at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference. As part of this commitment, the city is actively implementing measures to promote green growth, enhance climate resilience, and foster sustainable development, he said, adding that Can Tho wishes to cooperate with and learn experience the Netherlands has gained from its green, sustainable development and net-zero emissions projects and programmes. Both the Netherlands and the Mekong Delta region face significant challenges from flooding and land subsidence due to their low-lying geographical characteristics. Hien expressed his hope that increased cooperation with the Netherlands will lead to innovative projects aimed at addressing sea-level rise, flooding, and other climate-related risks. According to the city's leader, Can Tho is currently proposing a large-scale project to tackle urban flooding and erosion while strengthening climate adaptation efforts. The project, which will focus on integrating flood prevention with urban planning across 2,770 hectares of the city, has an estimated budget of over 4.5 trillion VND (190 million USD) and is expected to be implemented between 2024 and 2030. For his part, Stork expressed his belief in the deepening relationship between Vietnam, Can Thơ, and the Netherlands, noting that past successes have laid a strong foundation for future cooperation. He emphasised that joint projects relating to green, sustainable agriculture, environment, and climate change adaptation are essential not only for the participating countries but also for global efforts to protect the planet. He commended Can Tho's proactive approach to sea-level rise, noting the city’s progress in implementing both structural and non-structural solutions to improve climate resilience and protect urban areas from flooding. According to the Can Tho Department of External Affairs, the city's exports to the Netherlands reached 22.01 million USD in the first nine months of this year. Key exports include seafood, agricultural products, processed foods, and textiles. The city also hosts a Dutch-funded project with 100% foreign direct investment. In the non-governmental sector, Can Tho is involved in three major projects, including the automatic waste collection on the river in Can Tho funded by the Dutch Clean Seas Organisation worth 630,000 USD, the WaterWorX for climate-adapted water supply in the southwest Mekong Delta supported by Vitens Evides International B.V. with total aid of over 1.3 million USD, and the programe on Blue Dragon Vietnam - enhancing water resources management in the Mekong Delta financed by the Dutch Water Association and Blue Deal organisation with a total grant of 574,462 USD./.