On June 28 in Danang, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Deputy Vo Tuan Nhan had a meeting with Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga, Global Director, IUCN Policy and Programme Group of International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Minister Tran Hong Ha and Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan in the meeting with Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga
On June 28 in Danang, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and Deputy Vo Tuan Nhan had a meeting with Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga, Global Director, IUCN Policy and Programme Group of International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
At the meeting, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, Minister Tran Hong Ha express his sincerely thanks to Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga for her participation in GEF-6 and important contribution on policy, technical as well as current global issues given in this assembly. On this occasion, the Minister highly appreciates the relationship between the Government of Vietnam in general, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) in particular and IUCN during the recent time.
Thanks to Minister Tran Hong Ha for warm welcoming the delegation of IUCN in GEF-6, Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga congratulated Vietnam for successful hosting the sixth Assembly of GEF. Exchanging with the Minister on cooperation sectors between MONRE and IUCN, Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga reported on projects approved and implemented. She also hopes for further and stronger cooperation in the future, especially in recent time, the two sides together develop the initiative “Join hand for the non-plastic waste in the Southeast Ocean” with its specific objectives.
In the coming time, IUCN commits to provide technical and economic supports, experts for project implementation to assist MONRE. She also suggests that MONRE to collaborate with IUCN to develop large-scale projects towards comprehensive integration on land, water resources, environmental protection, etc.
Minister Tran Hong Ha agreed on option of Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga and suggested that two sides should continue to cooperate closely at technical aspect to develop optimal solution for Vietnam to participate in the initiative.
Regarding to the issue of becoming an GEF implementer of IUCN, he said MONRE with its role of national contact point, commits to support strongly GEF implementers in general and IUCN in particular, in collaboration with national agencies to develop and propose prioritized activities of GEF, in accordance with national strategy. The sectors proposed by IUCN includes: marine biodiversity, illegal fishing, capacity building for protected areas conservation. MONRE fully supports and waits for specific proposals of IUCN to address national urgent issues.
Related to the Mekong Delta being suffered from serious impacts from hydropower plants constructed by countries in the upstream, the Minister said, the Government of Vietnam in collaboration with Government of Laos and Cambodia have researched on impacts of hydropower plants in the mainstreams on nature, economic and social aspects of regions belonging to the Mekong Delta of these countries. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) also has intensive researches on this issue.
Leader of MONRE in photo session with the IUCN’s delegation
Besides, Minister said with these issues, Vietnam needs experts to issue exact assessment and optimal solutions. The Minister also agreed with Ms. Cyriaque Sendashonga that with each sector and period, it has different concerns and resources for cooperation. In all activities of MONRE, IUCN is a very important partner in supporting the ministry to design planning and training experts, technical staffs. The two sides need to implement immediately the important works which premise for long-term cooperation between MONRE and IUCN.
Khuong Trung