Vietnam calls for int’l support in green development

The Vietnamese government is calling for more support from international organizations and multinationals to help the country achieve its development goals, including the transition to a green economy.

Overview of the forum. Photos: VGP

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha urged interlocutors at the Vietnam-World Economic Forum (WEF) global business forum held on January 17 in Davos (local time).

According to Ha, Vietnam continues to put the people at the center of sustainable development.

“The Vietnamese Government would not sacrifice social advancement, equality, and environment for economic growth while pushing for three strategic breakthroughs of infrastructure, legal framework, and human resources,” Ha said.

In this context, Ha called for further support from multinationals to help Vietnam realize development goals, including the transition to a green economy with net zero carbon emissions. “Vietnam aims for green and sustainable development during the Covid-19 post period,” he added.

From the Government’s perspective, Ha said the priority would be stable macro environment for development, focusing on greater economic resilience against external shocks.

He said Vietnam promotes an independent and self-reliant economy while actively engaging in global integration.

“Vietnam continues to draw investment in strategic infrastructure projects in fields of transportation, technology, green, circular economy,” Ha said, noting the key is to effectively utilize advantages from 15 free trade agreements that Vietnam is a part of.

In addition, he expected Vietnam to tap new growth engines and explore new resources and technologies through climate agreements with international and domestic partners.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and Administrator of the UN Development Program Achim Steiner.

UNDP strengthens cooperation with Vietnam in priority fields

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister Ha held a meeting with the Administrator of the UN Development Program Achim Steiner.

During the meeting, Ha thanked the UNDP's  support for Vietnam during the construction and socio-economic development  in the past 50 years and the most recent projects related to solid waste and plastic treatment in the country.

Vietnam’s deputy prime minister reiterated the Government’s stance of realizing its commitments made at the COP26, including the net zero carbon emission by 2050.

It requested UNDP to provide technical assistance to Vietnam to ensure the success of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) between the country and the G7, as well as the effective management of water resources, enhancing resilience and climate adaptation in the Mekong Delta region.

For his part, Steiner highlighted Vietnam’s efforts in promoting socio-economic development, especially the commitment to transition to a green economy.

He said the UNDP remains committed to supporting Vietnam in priority fields and hoped the country to share its successful development models with other regions.

Vietnam's Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

At talks with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, Ha suggested climate change remains a strategic cooperation between Vietnam and the US.

He called for the US and other development partners to help Vietnam through transferring renewable technologies, providing green finance with preferential rates, and enhancing climate resilience in the Mekong Delta.

Kerry highly appreciated Vietnam's dedication in pushing forward the COP26 commitments, and stated that he would continue to support Vietnam in the process of transitioning to a low-carbon green economy.

The WEF’s annual meeting 2023, taking place on January 16-20 with the theme “Cooperation in a fragmented world,” comes at a time when the world is facing a multitude of crises. The meeting brings together more than 2,500 leaders from government, business, and civil society to address the most pressing global challenges.