ASEM conference on water resource management opens in Ben Tre

About 180 delegates from 53 ASEM members and regional and international organisations gathered at the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference on water resource management, which officially opened in the southern province of Ben Tre on June 4.

Delegates at the conference. (VNA)
Delegates at the conference. (VNA)

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam is strongly committed to strengthening international co-operation in water resources management in associated with sustainable development.

International co-operation is expected to help Vietnam successfully fulfill the Strategy for Socio-economic Development in the 2011-2020 period and the National Strategy on Natural Resources by 2020, he added.

The Deputy PM also encouraged the delegates to discuss water resources in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and share experience in ensuring water resources, food and energy security, and improving water management in urban areas.

They are also expected to make proposals on specific measures to increase the two continents’ contributions to building and implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including forming a global plan for water conservation.

This year’s conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ben Tre provincial People’s Committee.

This is the second time Vietnam has hosted the conference with an aim to promote the country’s position in ASEM, contributing to the forum’s efforts to protect water resources.

The annual event was initiated by the European Union and the seven members of the Danube-Mekong Co-operation Initiative: Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.