Minister calls for international cooperation in Mekong Delta water issues

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha speaks at the ninth session of the 14th National Assembly (Photo: VNA)
He made the call at the ninth session of the 14th National Assembly.

Vietnam is facing various problems in water security, he said, adding that the proportion of people in the country with access to domestic sources of freshwater is lower that the global average.

Climate change is resulting in an uneven distribution of water in different regions and seasons, and the economic structure in the Mekong Delta needs to change to ensure sustainable development.

Countries in the upper reaches of the river may hold some 20 percent of water volumes in their reservoirs, while Vietnam may lose up to 80 percent of its water due to climate change and is likely to face water-related risks, the minister said.

He said that State management responsibilities should be revised to ensure water security, while investment in infrastructure, monitoring, data, and planning should be clarified./.

VNA