President Trương Tấn Sang meets with WB Country Director to Việt Nam Victoria Kwakwa yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Khang

HÀ NỘI (VNS) — President Trương Tấn Sang said he hopes the World Bank (WB) will support Việt Nam in coping with the prolonged salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta during a meeting with WB Country Director to Việt Nam Victoria Kwakwa yesterday.

He briefed the WB official, who came to bid farewell at the end of her tenure, about the developments of drought, salt intrusion and climate change in the delta, which has caused huge damage to the local economy and livelihoods.

The President also mentioned the national programme on planning canal and dyke systems to prevent salt intrusion in the delta’s cities and provinces, and proposed the WB give urgent support to the country in these projects.

For her part, Kwakwa confirmed the WB will continue to coordinate with the Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities to put forth effective measures to cope with climate change.

She called on Việt Nam to cooperate with the bank in implementing its upcoming major programmes, and proposed that the President authorise agencies to negotiate on rural transport projects, dam safety, credit management and budget cuts.

She took note of the President’s proposals and confirmed that she will continue to support Việt Nam in the future.

Later the same day, Kwakwa was received by Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, who said Việt Nam wishes for continued support from the international community, including the WB, to fulfill its development goals.

He asked for the WB’s support in resources, policy consultation and technical assistance in infrastructure, sustainable poverty reduction, health care, education and human resource training, as well as in response to climate change and rising sea levels.

The host expressed hope that the WB, with its prestige, would continue raising its voice for effective and sustainable use of  Mekong River resources, especially waste.The leader also spoke highly of the outcomes of WB President Jim Yong-kim’s visit to Viet Nam last February and the joint work done to build the report “Vietnam 2035: Toward Prosperity, Creativity, Equity and Democracy,” which covered specific recommendations for Việt Nam’s development orientations.

Kwakwa, for her part, said the WB is working closely with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to effectively realise commitments reached during Jim’s visit and goals set in the Việt Nam report.The WB pledges to liaise with partners in seeking a suitable roadmap for Việt Nam to achieve priority development goals and ensure the State budget’s sustainable solvency, she said.

Research centres

On the same day, Sang received General Director of Samsung Vietnam Han Myong Sup. Sang proposed that the group support Việt Nam in developing its auxiliary industries.

He said he hoped that with its development pace, Samsung would see more success, reaching an export revenue target of US$50 billion and becoming the leading electronics complex in Việt Nam.

The President praised Samsung’s co-operation with scientific establishments in Việt Nam to set up research centres and provide high-quality human resources training.

Sup said that with Government support, more Vietnamese businesses could take part in the production process.

He expected that after the development research centre started operations in Hà Nội, many generations of Vietnamese engineers and workers would get access to advanced knowledge and skills. — VNS