Australia will grant AU$2.03million to support a cooperation program between Vietnamese and Australian scientists to help Vietnam raise its capacity in analysing, evaluating and building plans to cope with climate change.
The commitment was made by the new Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr at the opening ceremony of office of the Australian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City on March 27 th .
Southern Vietnam in General and Ho Chi Minh City in particular are the main areas in Vietnam that are seriously affected by climate change and this assistance would help Vietnam reduce poverty, cope with climate change and improve living standards of local people.
Besides, Australia will also grant $ 160 million to the construction of Cao Lanh Bridge in 2013, as part of activities to mark the 40 th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties. Previously, Australia also financed the construction of My Thuan Bridge project in Vietnam in 2000.
At the ceremony, Mr. Carr affirmed that Vietnam became one of most important and valuable partners of Australia in Pacific-Asia region. Annual bilateral trade turnover commerce in both goods and services of the two countries reached $ 6.1 billion.
The Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr, is on an official visit to Cambodia, Vietnam and Singapore. In Vietnam, he visited RMIT University in Ho Chi Minh City March 27 th and will visit Hanoi on March 28 th .
Source: SGTT
Translated by Tran Hoai