Dialogue on Climate Change Response in Mekong Delta Held in Paris

Vietnam, the Netherlands and the World Bank have issued a joint statement calling for global support to the Southeast Asian nation in coping with climate change in its Mekong Delta, state media reported. The joint statement was made at the end of a high-level dialogue on responding to climate change in the Mekong Delta region which was held in Paris on Nov. 30 and co-chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte and WB’s Vice President Laura Tusk. During the dialogue which took place on the sideline of the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) in the French capital city, Ms. Tusk hailed Vietnam for its strong commitment and determination to devise effective ways to address climate change. She affirmed the WB will work closely with countries and international organizations on the issue and pledged to increase the annual funding for the bank’s member countries to cope with climate change to $29 billion. Responding to Vietnam’s calling for further support from countries and international organizations in adapting to the impacts of climate change, Dutch PM Rutte pledged all possible support to the Southeast Asian nation in the field. (Nhan Dan – The People Dec 01, Vietnam News Agency Nov 30)