The Prime Minister’s instructions on the issue raised by VAN

On March 19, the Government Office issued document 1839/VPCP-NN on the issue raised by Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper. Specifically, on March 11, the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper has published an article "The Mekong Delta can be a model for the world" which indicated that if Resolution 120 is well implemented, the Mekong Delta can overcome challenges, become prosperous, and a model for the world.

Since then, the Prime Minister directed the Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development to effectively implement the Government’s Resolution No. 120/NQ-CP dated 17/11/2017.

MA. Nguyen Huu Thien, the author of the mentioned article, affirmed that the Mekong Delta is facing many difficulties, but if the region can overcome those challenges, then Mekong Delta shall become prosperous and a model for the world.

Specifically, the Integrated Plan of the Mekong Delta for the period 2021-2030, vision 2050, according to the Government’s Resolution 120 brings a lot of hope for the region. Accordingly, instead of investing in fighting against floods and salinity intrusion to create a lot of rice, this plan should focus on investment in roads, logistics, and automatic agricultural redirection.

Nguyen Huu Thien also gave 6 lessons learned from practice in the Mekong Delta so that it can be applied to other delta areas in the world, which include: The region is as a living organism; water resources are not just cubic meters; the GDP isn't everything;  respect the law of nature;  integrated planning; and regional linkages.