Paris (VNA)ꦦ – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on November 30 held bilateral meetings with leaders of 24 countries on the sidelines of the ongoing 21st Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris.

The countries are the UK, Germany, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Brazil, the Netherland, Australia, Norway, Finland, Chile, Iran, Cuba, Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Ukraine, Slovenia, Algeria, Bulgaria, Italy, Panama, New Zealand and Latvia. At the meetings, PM Nguyen Tan Dung reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of promoting and enhancing the friendship and intensive and result-oriented cooperation with the countries. Expressing his thanks for the countries’ support for Vietnam’s sustainable development over the past time, the PM appealed for their continued assistance to the Southeast Asian nation during its cause of national construction and development in the time ahead. He also proposed concrete measures to foster the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and the countries. PM Nguyen Tan Dung called on the countries to continue coordinating with Vietnam at multilateral forums and back Vietnam’s bid for seats in the UN’s major agencies. Vietnam will work as a responsible member of the international community, making active contributions to protecting the peaceful, stable and cooperative environment in the region and the world at large, the PM said. Leaders of the 24 countries expressed their admiration for socio-economic and cultural achievements Vietnam has recorded over the past time, the country’s role and prestige in Asia-Pacific and the international arena, as well as its active contributions to the global efforts against climate change. The leaders said their countries wish to further advance the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam. They compared note on measures to step up ties with Vietnam and pledged more support for the country’s development as well as it efforts to cope with climate change, gearing towards the successful realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Many leader voiced support of the viewpoints of Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on issues regarding the East Sea. On the fringes of the high-level dialogue on responding to climate change in the Mekong Delta region the same day, PM Nguyen Tan Dung met with WB President Jim Yong Kim, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Naoko Ishii and President of the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOIKA ) Kim Young - mok. Meeting with WB President Jim Yong Kim, the PM spoke highly of the bank’s support for Vietnam’s socio-economic development over the past years, especially its grant of preferential loans valued at nearly 1.7 billion USD during the 17 th term of the International Development Association (IDA). He proposed the WB continue accompanying Vietnam during the country’s development and integration in the coming time. President Jim Yong Kim described Vietnam as an example of development, saying he was impressed by Vietnam’s ambitious targets, particularly those concerning climate change in the country’s Mekong Delta region. The WB will do its utmost to help Vietnam realise its transitional targets and stand side by side with the country in coping with climate change, he promised. At a meeting with KOICA President Kim Young-mok, PM Nguyen Tan Dung expressed his gratitude for the agency’s support of Vietnam’s development projects. He called for more assistance from the agency in infrastructure development and climate change response, especially in the Mekong Delta. The KOICA head affirmed that Vietnam is the largest partner in terms of infrastructure and development of KOICA in particular and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in general. He said KOICA is willing to help Vietnam build institutional capacity and statistics database, among others. He also pledged stronger support for Vietnam’s climate change efforts and its building of development projects. Meeting with CEO and Chairperson of the GEF Naoko Ishii, PM Nguyen Tan Dung said the Vietnamese Government always pays due heed to issues regarding environmental pollution and degradation. Thanks to the support of the GEF, Vietnam effectively addressed environment-related matters such as chemicals, harmful waste, biodiversity, climate change and land and water degradation, he said. He suggested the GEF aid Vietnam’s environment projects to ensure the fulfillment of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Naoko Ishii said the GEF can assist Vietnam with sustainable urban development and climate change combat in the Mekong Delta. Noting her concern over sea level rise, she pledged to consider supporting Vietnam in the fight against climate change in the Mekong Delta region and in cooperation with regional countries in protecting and using water resources of the Mekong River in a sustainable manner.-VNA