The 78th annual conference of the International Commission of Large Dams (ICOLD) opened in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi on May 25 with the participation of 600 officials and scientists from 90 countries. This is a good opportunity for international and domestic experts to boost the safe development of dams and ensure the security of water sources, the state-run Vietnam News Agency cited Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai as saying at the opening ceremony. Vietnam strictly conforms to the international rules on development and management of natural resources to reach socio-economic benefits without doing harms to the ecosystems, Hai stressed. The Vietnamese government pays attention to scientific and advanced technologies to the construction and management of dams, irrigation and hydropower works, he added. During the two-day event, participants discussed 180 scientific reports on 17 topics relating to hydrography, sustainable development of water resources, management of river basin and coastal areas and mitigation of climate change’s impacts. A roundtable on dams and hydropower for sustainable development in Africa and a technical exhibition with 50 booths hosted by international and domestic agencies and advisory groups will also be held.
