| The regular mid-term conference of the development cooperation partners of Vietnam, the Consultative Group Meeting (CGM) was convened 9-10 June, 2010 at Rach Gia city, the capital of Kien Giang province Vietnam has been a more and more active actor in the international arena, and is a model country regarding the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Entering the group of middle income countries (MIC) has undoubtedly been a success story, but it also forecasts the major challenges the country faces. Instead of a setback, the global economic crisis has brought about a slight slowdown of GDP growth here. At the threshold of the path leading to rapid growth it is particularly important for Vietnam to consolidate recently recovered results of macroeconomic stability. For this, all favorable conditions are present but are still fragile. At the conference – where Hungary was represented by Ambassador Laszlo Vizi – donors commented Vietnam's development plan and strategy and the cross-cutting issues of the international development cooperation activities. The joint EU position reflected the fact that Vietnam is one of the most important ODA partner in Asia of the Community and some member states. The Hungarian Ambassador’s remarks were linked to the climate change agenda in accordance with the concept represented by Hungary at the ASEAN-EU Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Madrid last month, and focused on our water management activities in Vietnam. The Ambassador put emphasis on the joint aquaculture projects in the Mekong Delta, at areas bordering the conference host province, as well as the water treatment facilities under preparation in other parts of the country. He referred to the first Danube Summit held in Budapest and the Mekong summit organized in Thailand earlier this year. Given the fact that the Danube water management strategies and issues will be significant features in Hungary's EU Presidency in the first half of 2011, these themes will present more opportunities for interaction between Vietnam and Hungary. The speech was well-received. The co-chair of the meeting, Vietnam’s Minister of Planning and Investment referred to it calling for a more active dialogue and cooperation between the two parties on the basis of the similarity of the problems facing the countries of the Danube and Mekong rivers. The following were the main points of Ambassador Laszlo Vizi’s contribution: Dear Madame Co Chair and MPI Minister Phuc, In the course of discussing the SEDS and SEDP agenda this morning, numerous strong points of the drafts and also the challenges were identified. The subject of my short intervention is an often under-appreciated but crucial element of our existence – water and the management of water resources, as issues of primary importance in the long-term sustainable development of Vietnam. No wonder that each field trip tomorrow will include a visit to a water plant. Volumes of studies have dealt with water related problems, and it is well known that adverse climatic conditions and global warming further increase the pressures that demographic and economic growth have put on water resources. MONRE reported and it was also part of the just concluded presentation of Deputy Minister Lai that not so far from our host city Rach Gia, areas in the Mekong delta have to cope with salt invasion, floods, flood tide, water pollution, drought, water shortages – especially during the 6-7-month dry season, lower ground water level. These challenges combined with inefficient management of reserves threaten the population’s right of access to water, increase health threats, and in the long run deprive people of the very chance government policy aims to achieve, that is to “live in a higher quality environment in terms of air, land and water”. Though regulation framework, such as the National Water Resources Strategy towards 2020 and the Law on Water Resources are in place, the lack of proper licensing and sanctioning makes it more difficult to ensure economical and efficient use. It is evident that MONRE and the competent authorities are aware of the challenges, take them seriously, and hopefully will address them soon. We can easily identify with each other’s water related challenges as we have the common trait of great rivers running through the territories of our countries, in Vietnam the Red River and the Mekong, while in Hungary – the country I represent here – the Danube and the Tisza. Earlier this year the very first Danube Summit took place in Budapest and the first Mekong Summit in Thailand, to underline the strong necessity of international cooperation in maintaining reliable water supply. Hungary is committed to share information, experiences and best practices in this regard, especially as water management will be one of the key topics of the 2011 Hungarian EU Presidency. Water has been a focal area of our cooperation, our acquacultural research institutes established close ties, and this year we can start the realization of water treatment facilities at two locations to bolster the government’s aims. I hope you permit me to share one last thought: I believe this forum should call the attention to the fact that protection and preservation is not solely the state’s responsibility, but every citizen can make a contribution by simply refraining from throwing rubbish into rivers, lakes or the sea. The overwhelming pollution, besides depleting the liquid treasure, destroying the natural habitat of hundreds of species, and being an eyesore, can negatively affect income, for example from the tourism industry. This is an area where public private partnership, civil society, the NGOs could achieve a lot by merely raising awareness, and education. Thank you for your attention.
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