British Minister and COP26 President Alok Sharma’s visit to Can Tho

Permanent Vice Chairman Duong Tan Hien shakes hands with Minister, COP26 President Alok Sharma after the meeting

On August 28, Permanent Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Duong Tan Hien had a meeting with Rt Hon. Alok Sharma, Minister, President of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP26), together with H.E. Iain Frew, British Ambassador-Designate to Vietnam during a visit to learn about the impacts of climate change in Can Tho City.

Minister, COP26 President Alok Sharma said that this visit of the delegation was to understand the impacts of climate change on the people of Can Tho city, thereby supporting the implementation of commitments made at COP26, mobilizing the participation of the international community to implement climate change response programs in many countries including Vietnam. In addition, the UK also has global cooperation programs on climate change, especially interested in biodiversity conservation activities. Therefore, the Minister and COP26 President expressed his expectation that more programs and projects will be implemented in Vietnam as well as in Can Tho city in the coming time.

Sending health wishes to Mr. Alok Sharma and the delegation and wishing the delegation to reap many good results during their visit in Can Tho city, Permanent Vice Chairman Duong Tan Hien shared: located in the downstream of Mekong River, the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, including Can Tho City, is affected by climate change, sea level rise, saline intrusion, etc., influencing the development of the city as well as the livelihoods and lives of people in the present and future. Therefore, Can Tho city always pays special attention and enlists the support of international organizations to implement projects and action programs on climate change adaptation.

Within the framework of the visit in Can Tho City, Mr. Alok Sharma and the delegation, together with the Institute of Climate Change Research, Can Tho University had a boat trip along the two banks of Can Tho river, to learn about the life and activities of the local people. The delegation also visited An Khanh residential area in An Khanh ward, Ninh Kieu district to chat with researchers and local communities to understand the impacts of climate change and flood risk in urban areas. Finally, the delegation headed to the aquaculture floating house at Con Son, Bui Huu Nghia ward, Binh Thuy district to learn about the participation of the people in building a model of biodiversity conservation and protection of aquatic resources against the impacts of climate change.

The delegation is guided on a site visit at An Khanh Ward, Ninh Kieu District

Minister, COP26 President Alok Sharma is impressed with the fish variety on Mekong River