HCM City leader welcomes UN Under-Secretary-General

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai hosted a reception on July 5 for visiting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) and Executive Secretary of its Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana.
At the reception (Photo: VNA)
At the reception (Photo: VNA)

Mai said the city is currently paying attention to digital transformation, green energy, and the settlement of challenges on urban management, climate change response, and energy transition.

Therefore, it hopes to receive recommendations on these issues from the ESCAP, especially in building a legal framework and institutions for energy transition and how to calculate Carbon credits.

He asked the guest to recommend credit sources for the city to implement a clean energy development plan, build its metro system, and renovate its waterway system.

The city leader also took the occasion to invite Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana to attend and address the 2023 Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum with the theme of green growth and sustainable development.

According to Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the ESCAP has implemented a number of programmes and activities, and held international discussions and seminars on climate change response and sustainable development, and Ho Chi Minh City can attend and learn from experiences and lessons of cities in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai (third from right) and UN Under-Secretary-General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (fourth from right) (Photo: VNA)

Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Phan Van Mai (third from right) and UN Under-Secretary-General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana (fourth from right) (Photo: VNA)

She said that the city’s efforts to shift to renewables and strive for 30% of green energy by 2030 need huge investments in infrastructure and technology.

ESCAP expects the city to participate in its 8th Asia-Pacific Urban Forum to be held in the Republic of Korea to discuss investment issues in the fields of environmental protection, digital transformation, green energy, and urban development, she said, suggesting the city consider hosting the forum in the coming years.

VNA