Vice Chairman of the Cần Thơ municipal People’s Committee Nguyễn Thực Hiện meets with Daniel Stork, Consul General of the Netherlands in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

CẦN THƠ — A working session between leaders of Cần Thơ and a delegation led by Daniel Stork, Consul General of the Netherlands in HCM City, was held in the Mekong delta city on Wednesday to discuss opportunities for expanding bilateral collaboration in agriculture, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

During the meeting, Vice Chairman of the Cần Thơ municipal People’s Committee Nguyễn Thực Hiện reiterated the city’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the country's pledge at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference.

As part of this commitment, the city is actively implementing measures to promote green growth, enhance climate resilience, and foster sustainable development, he said, adding that Cần Thơ wishes to cooperate with and learn experience the Netherlands has gained from its green, sustainable development and net-zero emissions projects and programmes.

Both the Netherlands and the Mekong Delta region face significant challenges from flooding and land subsidence due to their low-lying geographical characteristics.

Hiện expressed his hope that increased cooperation with the Netherlands will lead to innovative projects aimed at addressing sea-level rise, flooding, and other climate-related risks.

According to the city's leader, Cần Thơ is currently proposing a large-scale project to tackle urban flooding and erosion while strengthening climate adaptation efforts. The project, which will focus on integrating flood prevention with urban planning across 2,770 hectares of the city, has an estimated budget of over VNĐ4.5 trillion (US$190 million) and is expected to be implemented between 2024 and 2030.

For his part, Stork expressed his belief in the deepening relationship between Việt Nam, Cần Thơ, and the Netherlands, noting that past successes have laid a strong foundation for future cooperation.

He emphasised that joint projects relating to green, sustainable agriculture, environment, and climate change adaptation are essential not only for the participating countries but also for global efforts to protect the planet.

He commended Cần Thơ's proactive approach to sea-level rise, noting the city’s progress in implementing both structural and non-structural solutions to improve climate resilience and protect urban areas from flooding.

According to the Cần Thơ Department of External Affairs, the city's exports to the Netherlands reached $22.01 million in the first nine months of this year. Key exports include seafood, agricultural products, processed foods, and textiles. The city also hosts a Dutch-funded project with 100 per cent foreign direct investment.

In the non-governmental sector, Cần Thơ is involved in three major projects, including the automatic waste collection on the river in Cần Thơ funded by the Dutch Clean Seas Organisation worth $630,000, the WaterWorX for climate-adapted water supply in the southwest Mekong Delta supported by Vitens Evides International B.V. with total aid of over $1.3 million, and the programe on Blue Dragon Việt Nam - enhancing water resources management in the Mekong Delta financed by the Dutch Water Association and Blue Deal organisation with a total grant of $574,462D. — VNS