Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) receives German Ambassador Christian Berge in Cần Thơ City yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

CẦN THƠ – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc met with foreign diplomats in Việt Nam at the Conference on Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Development of the Mekong Delta in Cần Thơ City yesterday, calling for more support from foreign countries for the delta. 

At a reception for German Ambassador Christian Berger, the leader said the diplomat’s attendance at the event demonstrates the German government’s attention to the Mekong Delat’s sustainable development. 
The Vietnamese Government thanked the German government for its support, he said, adding that German-assisted programmes have significantly contributed to Việt Nam’s development, particularly in vocational training, energy, environmental protection and climate change response. 
The PM noted his hope that the German government will continue to support the Mekong Delta in planning. 
Việt Nam regards Germany as the country’s leading European partner, he said, urging the two sides to maintain regular meetings to enhance their mutual trust and deepen bilateral ties. 
In reply, Ambassador Berger pledged to hold working sessions with Vietnamese agencies to accelerate co-operation in sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta. 
The diplomat expressed his wish that the Vietnamese and German governments continue scaling up co-operation, looking towards a better future for the two countries’ people. 
Berger also said he hopes that pragmatic co-operation initiatives between Việt Nam and other countries and development partners, including Germany, will be discussed at the conference, helping to transform challenges posed by climate change into opportunities. 

At a meeting with Australian Ambassador to Việt Nam Craig Chittick, PM Phúc said the diplomat’s attendance at the conference will advance relations between the two countries. 
Chittick said Australia has run many support and co-operation programmes in the Mekong Delta, noting that the Australian government will continue providing official development assistance to Việt Nam while mobilising resources to develop the delta. 
Australia will also assist Việt Nam in the spirit of innovative partnership, helping the country improve quality and productivity in agriculture, he said. 
Welcoming Swedish Ambassador Pereric Hogberg, PM Phúc called on the diplomat to do more for ties between Việt Nam and Sweden. 
Hogberg said Sweden is concerned with the development of the Mekong Delta and has ratified a package worth more than US$5 million to support the Mekong Delta Commission. 
Meeting with Jun Yanagi, an envoy of the Japanese Embassy in Việt Nam, the Vietnamese leader praised Japan’s assistance for the development of the Mekong Delta. 
Việt Nam wishes to develop its relationship with Japan for peace and prosperity in Asia, he said. 
The host urged the two sides to co-ordinate to prepare for the visit to Việt Nam by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to attend the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in November. 
Jun Yanagi lauded PM Phúc’s decision to hold the conference to mobilise resources for the development of the climate change-hit delta, emphasising that climate change response is one of the main pillars of Japan-Việt Nam co-operation. — VNS