On the morning of April 21, 2023, the Research Institute for Climate Change - Can Tho University (DRAGON-Mekong) was honored to welcome the delegation of the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam to visit and discuss with staff members of the Can Tho University and DRAGON-Mekong Institute. The delegation included Mr. Thomas Gass, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam, Mr. Werner Bardill, Consul of Switzerland in Ho Chi Minh City, and the experts from the German Embassy and the German International Cooperation Organization (GIZ) - under the Mekong Delta Climate Change Adaptation Project (MCRP).

Assoc. Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung, Vice Rector of Can Tho University, and experts from the University and the Institute welcomed and discussed with the delegation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam. The seminar discussed the facing issues, challenges, and solutions to improve resilience to climate change for the Mekong Delta region, aspects of sustainable agricultural development toward climate change adaptation, challenges in socio-economic development, urbanization and coordination, and inter-provincial and regional cooperation in the Mekong Delta.

At the talk, the delegation of the Embassy and experts from the university and the Institute also discussed and shared their perspectives on challenges and opportunities in coordination and connection between urban and rural areas towards the sustainable development for these areas, as well as issues related to water quality and use of water resources, ways in developing resilient urban infrastructure. In addition, the difficulties facing for applicability of research results were also discussed and discussed at the seminar.

Dr. Dang Kieu Nhan presents an overview of the current facing situation, challenges, and solutions that the Mekong Delta faces before the impact of climate change

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Le Van Vang shared about sustainable agricultural development adapting to the impact of climate change in the Mekong Delta

Dr. Dinh Diep Anh Tuan presented on climate change resilient cities, the case of Can Tho city

Ms. Huynh Kim Dinh shares issues of inter-provincial and inter-regional coordination and cooperation in the Mekong Delta

At the end of the seminar, Mr. Thomas Gass, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam, expressed his concern about the issues and challenges related to the impacts of climate change that the Mekong Delta is facing. The Ambassador highly appreciated the shared content and perspectives of the DRAGON-Mekong Institute and experts from Can Tho University on the facing issues, challenges, and opportunities for the Mekong Delta region to develop sustainably under the impact of climate change. Thereby, the Ambassador and the working delegation expressed their interest and desire to continue to cooperate and accompany the research on climate change and sustainable development for the Mekong Delta region, especially the coordination, linkages in agriculture, fisheries, and socio-economic development, climate resilient cities, data mining, and smart cities.

Some pictures at the meeting:

Mr. Thomas Gass raised the exchange issues for open-discussion

Mr. Werner Gruber raised issues and gave some questions to discuss

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Hieu Trung and experts from the University and the Institute discussed and responded to the delegation of the Swiss Embassy

Mr. Thomas Gass delivered the closing discussion

Delegation of the Embassy and other delegates took a souvenir photo

 Sir Thomas Gass wrote guestbook for DRAGON-Mekong Institute

Writer: Dinh Diep Anh Tuan