Can Tho (VNA) –Representatives of the People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta city of Can Thoheld a working session with Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City KarenLanyon on September 14 to discuss cooperation in diverse areas in the nearfuture.

Speaking at the event, Lanyonhailed Can Tho as an economic hub of the Mekong Delta that attracts Australianinvestors who want to form long-term strategic partnership.

She wished that Can Tho andAustralia would mutually benefit from a common strategy with a priority givento agriculture, renewable energy, environment protection and climate changeresponse.

Since this year, theAustralian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) has sent agronomiststo Can Tho to conduct studies and seek feasibility plans to clear barriers inagriculture, focusing on food safety, climate change, land quality improvementand tree nutrition, market connectivity, value increase for agriculturalproducts and aquaculture.

ACIAR will assist Can Tho inadopting technological advances in high-tech agriculture, attracting theprivate sector in creating opportunities to the poor in both rural and urbanareas to benefit from advanced farming models.

It aims to improve thecapacity of Can Tho farmers, agriculture extension officials and scientistsfrom research and training establishments.

Via a cooperation scheme, CanTho will work closely with ACIAR to improve farm produce output and quality, protectland and water resources, and ensure food safety and hygiene, Lanyon said.

In renewable energy field,the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) will conduct a full and detailed reporton the development potential of wind power, solar power and biomass energy,thereby proposing suitable policies.

AER will also help the citypilot a new project on tapping and manufacturing renewable energy in hi-tech agricultureor aquaculture processing, then review its efficiency and spread to other citiesand provinces in the southwest, making Can Tho a vanguard in the region interms of clean energy development.

Both sides will also worktogether on clean air, greenhouse gas emission, water drainage management andwastewater treatment projects.

The clean air project willtarget inner Can Tho areas, including Ninh Kieu and Binh Thuy districts, TraNoc 1 and Tra Noc 2 industrial and processing zones, focusing on monitoring airquality, reviewing greenhouse emission and building an action plan.

Australian experts will alsostudy water drainage in the locality and work out proper solutions.

Vice Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam agreed with the AustralianConsul General’s proposals and pledged to improve business climate, reformmechanisms to attract investment.

He expressed his hope thatthe Australian side will serve as a bridge connecting Can Tho with Australiangovernment-funded projects, and hold regular meetings with Australian investorsto introduce the city’s strengths and potentials.-VNA