The two-day event, entitled “Green Solutions”, was organized by the Embassy of Sweden in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City government, the embassy said in a statement. The impacts of rapid economic expansion and urbanization are evident in Vietnam, especially in HCM City, and environmental concerns are more pressing than ever, the Swedish embassy said. There is a consensus in the scientific community that Vietnam is among the top ten countries most heavily affected by global climate change, it said.
“While working hard for development, we must ensure that our environment is safeguarded for generations to come,” said Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee.
“We have been striving to combine economic development strategies with human development as well as environmental improvement and protection,” he added.
“Economy and sound environmental sustainability truly walk hand in hand. And there is much to be gained, from the point of view of both Vietnam and Sweden, to co-operate more within this area as Vietnam continues to develop rapidly,” said Swedish Ambassador Rolf Bergman.
Since the 1990s, the Swedish economy has grown by 44 percent, while green house gas emissions have been reduced by nine percent, according to Swedish Embassy in Hanoi.
