PM Dung underlined the assignment when chairing a working session with Mekong Delta local leaders on saline intrusion prevention and control.

Since 2014, El Nino has led to droughts and serious saltwater intrusion in Viet Nam, which negatively affected production and people's life.

According to PM Dung, the Mekong Delta is an important economic region of Viet Nam and plays an important role in economics, politics, security, national defence, industrialization and modernization. It also owned vast development potential, especially in agricultural production, food security, and aquatic cultivation.

Key political mission

The Government chief asked relevant ministries, agencies, and localities to effectively deploy both short and long-term measures to minimize damages for local residents and considered this as a top political task.

He also noted the importance of ensuring clean water supply for local residents to prevent disease outbreaks and water shortage for people and production.

PM Dung tasked his inferiors to protect paddy cultivation and support affected peasants to restore production.

He also asked for efficient measures to prevent forest fire, plans in response to climate change, sea level rise and provide expenditure support for those who suffer from saltwater intrusion.

The Government always attaches importance to support Mekong Delta provinces to develop infrastructure and irrigation works to prevent saline intrusion, landslides, and save clean water./.

By Kim Anh