Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh concluded his four-day work at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the UK, on Nov 3 after delivering meaningful speeches on Vietnam’s commitments to coping with the global climate issues.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at COP26. Photo: VGP

The COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow in November is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control.

In a speech beginning the global event that attracted the participation of about 30,000 stakeholders and more than 100 world leaders, Chinh announced Vietnam’s net-zero emissions target by 2050, reduction of methane globally, plan of action on forest and land use.

Chinh said although Vietnam is a developing country that has begun to industrialize over the past three decades, it will conduct stronger measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with its own resources and with international support both in terms of finance and technology transfer.

With the commitments, Vietnam joined nearly 90 countries in a US- and EU-led effort to slash emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels, a pact aimed at tackling one of the main causes of climate change.

Methane, the main greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, has a higher heat-trapping potential than CO2 but breaks down in the atmosphere faster.

The joint efforts by signatories, including Vietnam, are expected to get the world’s biggest emitters of methane to join the partnership.

The last but not least, Chinh was among the world’s leaders taking major steps to reserve global forest loss by 2030.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: VNA

Packed schedules

During the stay in the UK, Chinh conducted more than 20 bilateral meetings with leaders of countries like the UK, the US, Germany, Japan, India, Australia, Canada, South Korea, Thailand, and international organizations, including the UN, the European Commission (EC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

People in the list also include Charles, Prince of Wales, the heir apparent to the British throne, Charles, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, India’s PM Narendra Modi, Ireland’s PM Micheal Martin, Kuwait PM, Prince Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.

Chinh also joined more than 30 talks with leaders of the world’s leading organizations and universities: Liverpool University, Oxford University, the World Bank, Standard Chartered, Nike Inc., the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), LEGO Group, Roll-Royce Motor Cars, AstraZeneca, among others.

Representatives of Vietnamese and British businesses sign deals at the attendance of PM Chinh. Photo: VNA

Million-dollar contracts

Chinh’s visit has resulted in nearly 30 agreements worth hundreds of millions of dollars signed between Vietnam’s agencies and businesses and international bodies and partners in the fields of trade, agriculture, energy, healthcare, education, training, environmental protection, and sports.

The foreign partners include Rolls-Royce, Raphael Labs, AstraZeneca, Affinity, Oxford University, Gallagher Limited, Willis Towers Watson Limited, Pearson Corporation, among others.

On Nov 3, the PM met with British businesses working in finance, banking, asset management, auditing, and insurance.