(VOVworld) – The 2016 Mekong Delta Forum, entitled “Committed to a Prosperous and Climate Resilient Mekong Delta”, took place in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday to discuss solutions to the critical challenges climate change posed to the region.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke at the forum (Photo: VGP)

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the Mekong Delta aims to become a region with the most intelligent and sustainable agricultural economy in Asia. Mr. Phuc outlined measures to develop Can Tho city into a center connecting southwestern provinces. Phuc stressed the need to invest in scientific and technological research and biological application in aquaculture, rice production and orchard planting as well as develop product trademarks. Prime Minister Phuc also talked about cooperation between Vietnam and development partners, including the World Bank: “The World Bank needs to provide preferential credits and quickly disburse the capital and give technical support for Vietnam to enhance its capabilities in forecasting, warning, and assessing the potential of surface and underground spring water and the risks of erosion. It is necessary to build a network to supervise climate change and sea level rise, work out scenarios to develop the whole area, improve the quality of human resources and state management capabilities in the context of climate change. It is essential to develop infrastructure to facilitate our ability to deal with climate change”.