New York (VNA) – Vietnam pledges to further enhance cooperation with internationalorganisations and partners, especially countries within the Mekong RiverCommission (MRC) and Mekong-Lancang cooperation mechanism, to achievesustainable cross-border water development goals, Deputy Prime MinisterTran Hong Ha has said.

Delivering a keynote speech on March 23 atthe United Nations conference on mid-termcomprehensive review on the Decade for Action “Water for SustainableDevelopment” for the 2018-2022 period, Ha said 60% of Vietnam'swater resources come from trans-boundary rivers. Vietnam also engages in the MRC’smodel of cooperation which has garnered significant attention from manycountries. Worldwide, over 40% of the global population are living in trans-boundaryriver and lake basins.

Sharing comprehensive,inclusive and fair approaches to cooperation in water resource management, Hasuggested strengthening the global and regional legal frameworks for the useand management of trans-boundary water resources; adopting an integrated,nature-based approach to managing transboundary water resources as a unifiedentity in the building and implementation of planning, programmes and projects;  and enhancing transparent and equitable consultation mechanisms among the countries.

Hestressed that the use and exploitation of water should take into account locallivelihoods, socio-economic activities, and preservation of traditional culturalvalues and ecosystem associated with trans-boundary water resources.

💧 The official proposed establishing UN agencies and bodies to coordinate and support sci-tech and financialactivities, developing a global database on trans-boundary water resources, riverbasins and monitoring system, and setting ethical standards for behaviourstowards trans-boundary water resources.

Within theframework of the event, Deputy PM Ha met with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon and suggested both nationsconsider boosting cooperation in climate change adaptation and water resourcemanagement in the coming time.

Meeting Director-General of the United NationsFood and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) QuDongyu, Ha sought the FAO's support to improving Vietnam's capacity of managing natural resources, especiallyagricultural land, trans-boundary and inland water resources.

❀ Qu affirmedthat FAO will continue providing technical and technological support forVietnam’s agriculture sector, making it easier for Vietnam to join triangularand South-South cooperation in food and agriculture.

In ameeting with Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Natalia Kanem, Hasuggested the fund offer continued support to build and launch social socialwelfare policies in Vietnam, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups toensure that no one is left behind. He also proposed the building of an index toassess population, reproductive health, adolescents and gender equality in linewith international practices.

𝓰 Kanemvowed to help Vietnam effectively carry out the Country Programme for Vietnamfor 2022-2026, as well as study and enforce policies related to the Law onGender Equality, prevention of gender-based violence, and response to populationaging issues.

In a working session with French Minister forEcological Transition and Cohesion of the Territories Christophe Béchu, the Vietnamese official suggestedthat both sides reinforce technical and technologicalcooperation in protecting water resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissionsand coping with climate change, especially in fulfilling emission reduction commitments.

🔜 Bechuaffirmed that France always considers Vietnam one of the priority partners inthe region. He highlighted the need for joint work to implement the JointDeclaration on Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) that matches Vietnam'sconditions and situation.

In aconversation with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Slovenia Tanja Fajon, the Vietnamese Deputy PM called on both countries to continueworking closely together on climate change response and management of waterresources. Fajon, for his part,affirmed that Slovenia advocates promoting multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam,especially in water management and climate change response while offering mutualliaison at multilateral forums, particularly in the UN. In a dialogue with US Special PresidentialEnvoy for Climate John Kerry, Ha emphasised that Vietnam considers climatechange and energy transition priority cooperation areas between the twonations. He wished that the US Government will continue assistingVietnam in delivering commitments announced at the 26th UN Climate ChangeConference of Parties (COP 26) and effectively realising the Political Declarationon JETP. Kerry affirmed thatthe US wishes to step up collaboration with Vietnam in all areas. He alsoexpressed his wish to accelerate the effective delivery of commitments at the COP26, the energy transition process and building of a low-carbon economy inVietnam. Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet told the Vietnam News Agency that located in the lower Mekong River basin, Vietnam attaches importanceto the use and management of water resources which directly impact the lives oftens of millions of people. That's why Vietnam has actively engaged in bothbilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks, notably the MRC or UNframeworks, he stressed./.