(VOV) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called countries sharing the Red and Mekong Rivers to cooperate closely in using and managing water resources in a sustainable manner.

PM Dung called for closer international cooperation in using water resources efficiently (Photo:VGP)

Mr. Dung spoke at a ceremony in Can Tho City on Thursday, celebrating the 2013 World Water Day. He said that as Vietnam contains the lower basins of the Red and Mekong Rivers, which run through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia before flowing into its territory, it is necessary to boost international cooperation in sharing, exploiting and developing trans-border water resources sustainably. Prime Minister Dung said this is a key element in Vietnam’s sustainable development strategy until 2020. He urged upstream countries to cooperate and share water resource management with Vietnam for the sake of the peace and prosperity of all the countries. The PM called on Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities to manage and use water resources efficiently.