Participants at the forum (Photo: //congthuong.vn/)

Hanoi (VNA) – ♌Vietnam needs to step up the approval of big projects and those supporting green growth in order to achieve the target of carbon neutrality by 2050, according to Kazuo Kusakabe, Chief Representative of Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte Ltd in Hanoi. 

Speaking at a forum on measures toboost post-COVID-19 cooperation between Vietnam and Japan towards green growth organised by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) under theMinistry of Planning and Investment (MPI) on February 15, Kusakabe said climatechange is a challenge for the world, including Vietnam.

CIEM Director Tran Thi HongMinh said, to address challenges caused by climate change toward green growthafter the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to strengthen internationalcooperation.

As one of the most vulnerable countries by climate change,Vietnam has been proactive in proposing many solutions to minimise the impactsof climate change, including its commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference(COP26) in the UK, she said.

To solve challenges related to climate change, Vietnam has carried out cooperation programmes with Japan, especially in terms of green growth, Minhsaid, noting that these activities have produced many important results,especially in the fields of investment, import-export, sustainableinfrastructure development, and human resource development.

According to reports from the MPI’s Foreign Investment Agency,Japan has always been one of the largest foreign investors in Vietnam. Key areaswith great potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Japan include electricaland electronic equipment, wooden architecture, wind power, biomass and solarpower, organic aquaculture and farming.

Nguyen Anh Duong, Director of the CIEM's General Research Department, said Japan and Vietnam can consider four orientations to promotecooperation towards green growth in the coming time, focusing on improvinginstitutional capacity, regulations, and policies related to green growth; developing sustainable infrastructure in Vietnam; promoting low-carbon andlow-emission value chains; and developing international treaties, rules andinternational standards related to green growth.

According to Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Director ofthe Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy, Vietnam needs to boost internationalcooperation and roll out measures to mobilise domestic and internationalprivate capital to complete its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

🌳 Participants at the forum discussed and analysednew domestic and international trends and motivations to promote green growthefforts in Vietnam. They also proposed recommendations to further expand cooperationbetween the two countries./.