Co-operation over training discussed with S Korea

HA NOI — Viet Nam hopes to co-operate with the Republic of Korea in human resource training and to receive support from the country in coping with climate change and sea level rise, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Dung made the comments when receiving South Korean Minister of Environment Yoo Young Sook in Ha Noi yesterday, adding that Viet Nam has always prioritised environmental protection.

"The Vietnamese Government supports collaboration between the two environment ministries and promises that co-operative activities would be implemented effectively," he said.

The South Korean minister, who was in Ha Noi for the ninth meeting between the two ministries, confirmed that the nation would be willing to co-operate and share its experiences with Viet Nam in the environmental field.

Yesterday the environment ministries of both countries held a business conference on green technology in Ha Noi for relevant stakeholders to explore the opportunities for co-operation in environmental protection.

Addressing the conference, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang said the environment was among the major concerns of Viet Nam.

Viet Nam has been slow to adopt modern environmental technologies due to limited resources, and is therefore interested in closely co-operating with external partners to utilise their high-level expertise and investment capital.

South Korean Environment Minister Yoo Young Sook said her country wanted to share its strong expertise in water supply, waste treatment and land cleansing practices.

According to the Viet Nam Ministry of Industry and Trade, the environmental protection activities in 16 economic sectors in Viet Nam may necessitate a total investment of US$7.6 billion.

Dang Van Loi, deputy director of the Viet Nam Environment Administration's Pollution Control Department said that the current policies gave preferential treatment to enterprises using green technologies.

Nguyen Tuan Anh of the Ministry of Planning and Investment said the major source of funding for environmental protection was the State Budget, which increased remarkably from VND230 billion (US$11 million) in 2006 to VND530 billion ($25 million) in 2011.

He said that over the same period the ODA projects in this field totalled $2.914 million, $2.856 million of which was borrowed.

Anh said the investment and financial policies for environmental protection needed to be diversified and flexible in order to mobilise capital and tie financial benefits for investors to achieve environmental goals.

As of now, South Korean ODA-funded green growth projects in Viet Nam enjoy an interest rate 0.05 per cent lower than the normal level.

At the conference, representatives from South Korea presented a number of modern technologies used to treat waste in their country.

President receives delegation

Also yesterday, President Truong Tan Sang received a delegation from the Association of People loving Viet Nam in South Korea (VESAMO), led by founder Prof Park Kwang Joo.

During the meeting, the President asked VESAMO, together with other friendship organisations, to continue contributing to enhancing the ties and co-operation between the two countries.

VESAMO was established in 2003 in Busan as the association for individuals and enterprises in South Korea who appreciate Vietnamese people and culture. Its main activities include supporting Vietnamese students, guest workers and brides in Busan. The organisation also holds regular meetings and exchanges with Viet Nam.

An orchestra from Busan will also perform in an exchange with artists in Ha Noi and northern Bac Ninh Province. — VNS