Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat has affirmed Vietnam ’s commitment to continue fostering the implementation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.
He also asserted Vietnam ’s efforts in implementing national programmes to increase adaptation to climate change and mitigate its impacts as well as saving energy, using renewable energy and developing forests.
Speaking at the plenary session of the 16 th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) on climate change and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 6) in Cancun , Mexico on Dec. 10 (Vietnam time), minister Phat called on parties to the UN convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol as well as organisations to stand side by side with international community in global efforts against climate change.
The minister, head of the Vietnamese delegation to COP 16, also called upon developing countries to make further efforts to implement programmes to minimise climate change impacts, based on their capacity.
These countries should also reach an agreement on the extended “Reduce Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries” (REED+) mechanism, apply effective measures to reduce emission, create favourable conditions for raising and maintaining biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably, he said.
During the time in Cancun to attend COP 16, which opened on Nov. 29, the Vietnamese delegation had bilateral meetings and talks with delegations from ASEAN countries, Mexico , the US , Japan , the Republic of Korea , the Netherlands , Poland , Norway and international organisations, including the World Bank (WB).
At these meetings, Vietnam and its partners agreed to boost cooperation and share experience, promote policymaking ability, invest in green technology, use and manage land effectively as well as combine the development of infrastructure and the preservation of natural resources to ensure sustainable development.
Partners praised Vietnam ’s efforts in coping with climate change and negative impacts on socio-economic development.
Earlier, on Dec. 8, Deputy Head of the Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, was received by Mexican President Felipe Calderon, who identified the similarities between the two countries as a firm foundation for fostering multifaceted bilateral cooperation in the future.
The Vietnamese delegation will meet with other partners from Mexico before the conference wraps up on Dec. 11./.