Vietnam, Japan hold environmental policy dialogue

Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Japanese Minister of the Environment Tsuyoshi Michael Yamaguchi have discussed measures to foster cooperation between the two countries in the area of environment and climate change response, focusing on the implementation of commitments made by the Prime Ministers of the two nations at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Japanese Minister of the Environment Tsuyoshi Michael Yamaguchi at the signing ceremony. (Photo: VNA)
Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Japanese Minister of the Environment Tsuyoshi Michael Yamaguchi at the signing ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

At the 7th Vietnam-Japan environmental policy dialogue in Tokyo on November 24, Ha expressed his belief that with the great attention of both sides, bilateral cooperation in the fields of environment, climate change response and development of circular economy will be further promoted beyond the areas of natural disaster prevention and control, and ocean debris management.

Concluding the dialogue, the two ministers signed a cooperation plan on climate change response towards the target of carbon neutrality by 2050. The document is of significance in implementing the commitments delivered by the Prime Ministers of the two countries at COP26.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency after the dialogue, Ha said that during the dialogue, he and his Japanese counterpart concentrated on the contents which will contribute to the upcoming agreements between the two governments on a roadmap towards the target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

He said that the Japanese minister underlined the comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam from the stage of policy and institution building and completion as well as in technical assistance. It’s time for the two countries to shift fossil fuel to renewable energy, wind power and hydrogen, along with the application of new and modern technologies, Ha said.

Besides, the two sides also focused on measures to improve the efficiency of existing cooperation contents such as the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM).