Netherlands Ready to Support Vietnam in Sand Mining, Water Management
The Netherlands is ready to assist Vietnam in sustainable offshore sand mining, groundwater management, and mineral exploitation, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Mark Harbers told Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh at their meeting on March 18.
Mr. Harbers also expressed his country’s readiness to share policies, experience, techniques, and financial solutions with Vietnam in sand mining; groundwater management in the Mekong Delta; essential mineral exploitation; and activities at the International Panel on Deltas, Coastal Areas, and Islands.
For his part, Minister Khanh agreed with his guest on the need to quickly issue guidance for the projects on seeking offshore sand sources. He also showed his hope to receive assistance and experience from the Netherlands to devise water storage solutions to help solve water excess in the flood season and water scarcity in the dry season in the Mekong Delta.
Besides, the Vietnamese official considered the International Panel on Deltas, Coastal Areas and Islands as a good platform for sharing knowledge about climate change adaptation. He promised that Vietnamese authorities would coordinate with the Netherlands to work out proposals for improving the national capacity to make use of water resources amid climate change and give livelihood support to residents in the Mekong Delta.
During the working session, the two ministers also discussed the building of a program marking the 15th founding anniversary of the framework on climate change adaptation and water resources management between the two countries.