National meeting responds to World Water Day, 2013

On the morning of 21 March 2013, in Luu Huu Phuoc Park in Can Tho, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held a meeting in response to the World Water Day 2013 with the theme "International Year of Water Cooperation" and the message "Water, water everywhere only if we share". Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang; leaders of ministries, branches, authorities in the Mekong River Delta, representatives of the United Nation, Embassy of the Netherlands, Laos in Vietnam with more than 4,000 participants including students and people in Can Tho City were attended the meeting.

In his address, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung praised the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and People’s Committee of Can Tho City for organizing a series of activities on the occasion of the World Water Day, which would contribute to improve people’s awareness, behavior, and habit at present and in the future. According to him, water is one of the irreplaceable resources. He called for upstream nations to cooperate and share with Viet Nam for peace and common prosperity for all countries along the basins.

Ministries, branches and local authorities work together, exchange and share information as well as build legal framework in the protection, exploitation, use and sustainable development of water resources - precious resources in this century.

Also, at this ceremony, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang says that water - a strategic resource has been confirmed in many important forum in the world. In the current context of economic development activities have increased and caused tremendous pressure on water resources. Water scarcity and dispute have been causing conflicts among the upstream and downstream areas, among groups of water users, and even among cultures, politics sharing the same water source. According to the report of the United Nations on the Millennium Development Goals in 2012, some 11% of the world’s population, or 780 million people, have no access to clean water.

After the meeting, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) workshop on water and river basin management and green growth approach with the participation of Prime Minister NguyenTan Dung, Minister of Natural resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and many Vietnamese and foreign participants.