A new landmark of partnership

That is the statement of. ”Cooperative Plan for the period 2014 -2015 is the continuation of the long-term historical relations between the two countries in the field of natural resources and environment. It is also a new landmark of the partnership” said the Deputy Minister at the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, he express his profound respect to the relations between Vietnam and Denmark since 1971. During the past years, Denmark is always a leading development partner in supporting Vietnam in the field of natural resources and environment. Many projects and activities have been implemented and received good results in Vietnam with funding from the Danish government. For example, cooperative development program in the field of environment was implemented in the period 1997-2012; climate change adaptation and mitigation program has been implemented since 2009 and is expected to end in 2015.

It is the effective cooperative partnership in the field of natural resources and environment that has made a prerequisite for the two governments to deliver a joint statement in November 2011 in order to establish a strategic partnership in climate, environment, energy and green growth. Then, the two countries issued a Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership in September, 2013.

To help concretize this Declaration, Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with the Danish Embassy build an Action Plan in the field of natural resources and environment for the period 2014-2015.

Danish Ambassador John Neilsen praised the two sides’ efforts in shaping specific contents of the Plan. Denmark will continue to work closely with Vietnam on the way to combat climate change, protect environment and implement green growth.

Giving priority to support climate change adaptation

The Action Plan includes specific contents related to multilateral and bilateral policy dialogue. Besides, Vietnam will participate in Global Green Growth Forum (3GF), launched by the Danish Government in collaboration with South Korea and Mexico. The Forum will support and create favorable conditions for the establishment and promotion of green growth worldwide through public-private partnership model (PPP) on green growth. Vietnam's participation in this initiative will help improve Vietnam's position in the international arena in the joint efforts of the international community to respond to climate change.

On the other hand, in the field of education, Denmark will help improve capacity of training in the University of Natural Resources and Environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, equip the knowledge to officers in international cooperation department of the Ministry.

In particular, in the period 2014-2015, Denmark determined the support for the response to climate change for localities to be a focus duty. Specifically, the Government of Denmark provided its assistance to two pilot provinces of Quang Nam and Ben Tre in the framework of the project named Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM) in Vietnam for the period 2009-2013. The results and lessons learned from this will be replicated in the provinces vulnerable to climate change in Vietnam, especially in coastal areas. Regarding to the demonstration project on Danish green technology, Denmark will transfer one or a number of Danish green technology for example, providing clean water or renewable energy in some remote island in Vietnam.

In addition, Vietnam and Denmark will hold a seminar on green growth between the two countries’ enterprises in order to promote the use of credit on climate change in Denmark, set up media center on natural resources and environment, continue the implementation of Energy Efficiency Program. With this operation, the two countries will contribute to promoting cooperation in both width and depth.