Three Consuls General conduct field visits in the Mekong Delta region

During their official visit, the three Consuls General conducted meetings with Can Tho city's local government, the Rector of Can Tho University, local ecologists, and the local business community to emphasize their shared commitment to Vietnam's Mekong Delta region as well as the broader Indo-Pacific area.

The Consuls General highlighted bilateral and multilateral priorities during a meeting on October 24 with the Secretary of the Can Tho City Party Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, and the Chairman of the Can Tho City People's Committee, Mr. Tran Viet Truong.

The parties also discussed solutions to strengthen cooperation between the three diplomatic missions and Can Tho to address the city's multifaceted requirements in terms of trade, energy, climate change, healthcare, technology, and education.

Consul General Burns reaffirmed that the three countries have invested extensively in Vietnam's prosperity, and they recognize that Vietnam's success is directly linked with their own accomplishments. They underscored Vietnam's pivotal role in ensuring security and stability within the Mekong Delta region.

The United States, Australia, and Japan remain committed to addressing Vietnam's needs and priorities, including those related to clean energy, climate resilience, agriculture, digital economy, trade facilitation, healthcare, and higher education.

Ms. Sarah Hooper, the Consul General of Australia, stated, "Australia, Japan, and the United States share a common commitment to an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region whereby cooperation, trade, and growth are encouraged. We are actively contributing to the development of the Indo-Pacific region by delivering tangible results that align with the priorities of Vietnam and the region as a whole, including advancing the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals."

Japan has been providing Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Can Tho University since 1969 to enhance agricultural and fisheries production, and address climate change issues in the Mekong Delta provinces and Can Tho city.

Consul General Ono Masuo of Japan remarked, "Today's visit underscores the tremendous potential of cooperation between multiple stakeholders in bringing prosperity to the region as well as creatively protecting the environment."

The Consuls General visited Can Tho University on October 25 to gain insights into each country's collaborative programs with Vietnam in the Mekong Delta region. These initiatives aim to address climate change, minimize pollution, enhance environmental sustainability, and promote education.

The Consuls General also embarked on a boat trip along the Mekong River with leading Vietnamese ecologists to observe the impacts of climate change on local communities.

They deliberated proposals on how the three countries can support Vietnam and other downstream Mekong countries in fostering stability, peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

Additionally, the Consuls General toured "The Interceptor 003," a river cleaning system, which is a collaborative effort between Coca-Cola Vietnam and The Ocean Cleanup organization, capable of collecting 55 tons of waste daily from the Can Tho River.

They also visited the Cuu Long Delta Rice Institute and research facilities dedicated to establishing a sustainable rice value chain for smallholder farmers. These efforts are sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research in partnership with SunRice Group.