Ho Chi Minh City boosts cooperation in environment with RoK

The delegates at the meeting (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

Welcoming the Korean Deputy Minister and the delegation to Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Mai emphasized the good development cooperation between the two countries, in which the city always determines the important and positive contribution for the general relationship between the two countries. Currently, the city is preparing strategies for green growth, such as developing the green and circular economy. He said that first of all, the city wants to learn from the RoK's experience in order to achieve the goal as committed by the Prime Minister of Vietnam, to achieve zero net emissions by 2050. In the near future, the city is preparing to hold a forum on the topic of sustainable economic development. The city's leaders are looking forward to the Korean side's participation in this event and want to listen to the opinions of experts on the solutions to achieve this goal.

Sharing about the problems of wastewater treatment, garbage, air pollution and climate change response, Chairman of the City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that the city hopes to cooperate with the RoK to have green technology solutions to help solve the problems facing the city.

Appreciating RoK's previous development in Asia as good models for the city to refer to, he said he hoped that the RoK would pioneer in sharing and leading large cities in Asia to jointly develop a green economy and protect the environment.

Mr. Kum Hang Seung, Korean Deputy Minister of Environment, affirmed that the two countries have close cooperation and strategic relations, and wished through the visit to continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of environment and green growth. He was very happy that, although facing difficulties due to the pandemic, Vietnamese tourists to the RoK now account for the largest number. Every year, the ministers of the two countries hold a conference on the environment to contribute to strengthening cooperation. The RoK is also very happy to welcome the Ho Chi Minh City delegation to visit and learn about the environment management. Recognizing that the Vietnamese government is also very interested in green development and environmental protection, he added that last year, Vietnam announced a strategy for green growth and sustainable development. In particular, Ho Chi Minh City is also interested in technology development, environmental sanitation, clean water supply, and waste treatment.

Regarding wastewater treatment cooperation projects with the city in recent years, the RoK is having projects on pre-feasibility study of the waste collection and treatment project system. Hopefully, successful cooperation projects will be a model for the two sides to cooperate on more projects in the future. The Korean Ministry of Environment is willing to go hand-in-hand with the city to promote cooperation between the two sides, especially in the field of environmental protection and climate change./.