(VOVworld)- Water and River Basin Management – A Green Growth Approach was high on the agenda of an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) workshop, which opened on Wednesday in the southern city of Can Tho. The workshop drew 150 delegates from 51 ASEM members and relevant organizations. In his address on Thursday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that as one of the biggest suppliers of farm produce in the world, Vietnam is aware of the importance of sustainable management and protection of water resources. He said this is an important part of Vietnam’s sustainable development strategy for the 2011-2020 period and the National Strategy on water resources until 2020. He said Vietnam has contributed to international efforts and was actively implementing the ASEAN’s Strategic Action Plan on water resource management. Prime Minister Dung said: “Only with strong actions now can we limit and prevent climate challenges. Reality shows that the protection of water resources brings lot of opportunities for cooperation rather than creating disputes. ASEM is an important regional forum. It has 60% of the world’s population and contributes 55% of the global GDP. Stretching across the Asian and European continents are major rivers that have produced several major civilizations and cultures, the Volga, Danube, Rhine, Yellow river, Ganges, Hang and Mekong Riverd. Therefore, ASEM is responsible for and capable of contributing to the protection of water resources. With its practical agenda, this workshop is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our dynamism in joining together with other global efforts and working out effective measures for cooperation.

Prime Minister Dung expressed his belief that discussions at the workshop would contribute to developing effective solutions to water resource-related challenges while at the same time ensuring interest in economics and development.