(TN&MT) - On the afternoon of July 18, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh held a meeting with Italian Ambassador Marco Della Seta. Both parties expressed their hope to further promote comprehensive and in-depth cooperation in the field of resources and environment.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh held a meeting with Italian Ambassador Marco Della Seta

During the meeting, Minister Đặng Quốc Khánh congratulated the Ambassador on his new position in Vietnam and expressed confidence that with his extensive experience in diplomacy, the Ambassador would have a successful tenure in Vietnam. The Minister also affirmed that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment would cooperate and provide the best possible conditions for the Ambassador to fulfill his duties and promote the cooperation between the two countries in the field of resources and environment, achieving many common successes.

Ambassador Marco Della Seta

In his discussion with Minister Dang Quoc Khanh, Ambassador Marco Della Seta highly appreciated Vietnam's position and role, particularly the commitments and actions of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in their efforts to protect the environment, adapt to climate change, and transition to renewable energy. He affirmed that the Italian Government would always support Vietnam in fulfilling its climate commitments, including a €250 million grant from the Climate Change Mitigation Fund under the JETP framework.

The Ambassador also mentioned that many Italian agencies and enterprises are eager to expand cooperation and investment with Vietnam in various fields such as environmental protection, energy transition, remote sensing, meteorology and hydrology, afforestation, and biodiversity conservation. Ambassador Marco Della Seta stated that Italian government agencies are looking to sign MOUs to concretize these cooperation programs.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh

In his discussion with Ambassador Marco Della Seta, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh acknowledged that in recent years, the Government and agencies of Italy have provided significant support to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in various areas, including meteorology and hydrology, water resources, remote sensing, and climate change. On this occasion, through His Excellency the Ambassador, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh expressed sincere thanks to the Italian Government for this valuable support and cooperation.

Agreeing with the Ambassador’s proposals, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment oversees nine sectors, many of which could have sustainable cooperation with Italy, such as marine and island management, climate change, environment, water resources, remote sensing, and meteorology and hydrology. He emphasized the need for the Ambassador's role as a bridge to continue promoting cooperation in both traditional areas and new fields proposed. The Minister hopes to further develop a comprehensive and deeper cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Italy in the field of natural resources and environment.

Overview of the Meeting and Working Session on July 18

Regarding specific areas of work, the Minister expressed a desire for His Excellency the Ambassador and the Italian Government to advocate for and encourage international partners to support Vietnam in mobilizing resources for the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This includes providing stable and clear financial resources, outlining total capital and funding schedules for Vietnam, as well as offering technical expertise and technology to enhance capabilities, including management skills. This support is crucial for Vietnam to meet its commitments and global initiatives on emission reduction, climate change adaptation, particularly the commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Vietnam also seeks support for experiences and solutions related to the circular economy, minimizing plastic waste, and environmental protection. Additionally, cooperation is needed to enhance capabilities, transfer technology, and support the implementation of the modernization strategy for the meteorological and hydrological sector through non-repayable ODA projects.

Minister Đặng Quốc Khánh and Ambassador Marco Della Seta are optimistic about the prospect of further effective collaborative activities that will deepen the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Italy, especially in the fields of natural resources and environment.

The Minister also suggested that the Ambassador encourage cooperation between the Ministry and Italian partner agencies to access and utilize satellite remote sensing data from Italy and Europe (ESA) for monitoring resources, the environment, and climate change. Additionally, he proposed joint research on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) to extract geographic information from remote sensing data.

Furthermore, there was an emphasis on enhancing cooperation, sharing, and exchanging experiences in water resource management. This includes building and operating national water resource databases and restoring degraded, polluted, and depleted water sources.

In addition to support for resources and technology, Minister Dang Quoc Khanh also expressed the desire for Italy to collaborate with research institutions and universities within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. This collaboration would provide Vietnamese scientists with access to scientific achievements from Italy and Europe, enabling them to apply and adapt these advancements to local conditions and develop relevant scientific products.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh presents a souvenir gift to ambassador Marco Della Seta

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh and Ambassador Marco Della Seta take a commemorative photo

Through the meeting, Minister Đặng Quốc Khánh and Ambassador Marco Della Seta expressed their hope for further effective cooperation, which will contribute to deepening the relationship between Vietnam and Italy, particularly in the fields of resources and environment.