Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (second, right), British Cabinet Minister and COP26 President Alok Kumar Sharma (second, left), and other officials pose for a photo at the meeting in Hanoi on February 14 (Photo: VNA) The PM expressed his delight atthe fast, strong, and comprehensive development of the Vietnam - UK strategicpartnership in the recent past, as well as the two sides’ fruitful cooperationin economy, politics, diplomacy, and capitalisation of the Vietnam - UK FreeTrade Agreement.
He thanked the UK, especially theAstraZeneca company, for the timely provision of vaccine and medical suppliesfor Vietnam in COVID-19 response.
PM Chinh said the Vietnamese Party andState view climate change response as one of the difficult but urgent tasks,noting that the country has been actively and proactively joining hands withthe international community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt toclimate change, and considers this as a chance to switch to a green, circular,and low-carbon development model.
Since COP26, Vietnam has beenseriously and swiftly taking actions to realise its commitments as seen in theestablishment of a national steering committee for implementing its pledgesmade at the conference, and the PM is head of this committee.
The country is working hard to perfectthe relevant legal framework; build detailed plans, measures, and roadmaps;overhaul related strategies and plans; and mobilise investment resources for climate-resilientinfrastructure in order to carry out the commitments, he noted.
The Government leader asked Sharma, asCOP26 President, to continue helping promote Vietnam’s cooperation with the UKand development partners to assist the country to implement those commitmentsand the global initiatives on emissions reduction and climate change adaptation.
He called for support for Vietnamto connect with the financial institutions and credit organisations able toprovide financial aid and credit for the country similar to the Just EnergyTransition Partnership that the UK, France, Germany, the US, and the EuropeanUnion signed with South Africa.
Vietnam also needs assistance to setup a domestic carbon market linked with the international one; establish arenewable energy centre to boost human resources training, technology transfer,and sharing of legal and country governance experience; and align legalregulations with the promises at COP26, according to Chinh.
For his part, Sharma spoke highly ofVietnam’s strong commitments and leadership in the region while welcoming thecountry’s swift and comprehensive actions, along with efforts by theGovernment, the Prime Minister, ministries, and sectors to ensure the pledges areimplemented in reality.
He affirmed the readiness to cooperateand share experience with Vietnam to help carry out the commitments, stressingthat the energy transition process is key to its climate commitments since 70percent of the country’s gas emissions is from the energy sector.
The UK will assist Vietnam to accessand mobilise necessary financial sources during this process, the COP26President added./.
VNA
