Vietnam responds to World Water Day

A national meeting was held by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), in collaboration with the Thanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee on March 22, in response to 2016 World Water Day (March 22).

Photo for Illustration (Pho to: Thai Thien)

Addressing the meeting, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang said that World Water Day aims to raise public awareness of the importance of water resources and encourage countries to set specific policies on sustainable management of water, particularly fresh water resources.

Over the past years, Vietnam has actively participated in international integration negotiations in order to build co-operation mechanisms to harmoniously manage water resources among nations.

In 2016 and following years, the MoNRE will continue to co-ordinate with other ministries, branches and localities to bring the resolutions related to water resources management into life, as well as implement the provisions of the Law on Water Resources, programmes and action plans.

At the meeting, the organising board called on sectors at all levels to commit to build policies ensuring water security towards sustainable social development. Localities should be aware of the need to protect and effectively use water resources.

The authorities in the mountainous and remote areas should thoroughly grasp the importance of watershed protection in order to protect and develop water resources.

In addition, river delta and coastal regions, particularly the Mekong River Delta, need to focus on planting, conserving and developing mangrove swamps and forests to prevent erosion, as well as increasing water storage works for water protection and climate change adaptation.

On the occasion, a seminar and a photo exhibition themed ‘Water and Jobs’, along with an arts programme were held to celebrate the 2016 World Water Day.

(Source: NDO)