HCMC – U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper on April 7 and 8 made his first official visit to Can Tho City, which he said would play an important role in the next 25 years of the U.S.-Vietnam partnership.
During a meeting with secretary of the Can Tho Party Committee Le Quang Manh, ambassador Knapper discussed bilateral priorities and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific, the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral partnership, and addressing the challenges facing the Mekong Delta.
Both sides also discussed ways to increase bilateral cooperation on shared interest, including climate change, health, and education. “The future of Vietnam and the U.S.-Vietnam relationship will be determined not only by Hanoi and HCMC, but by people in all the 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam,” the ambassador said.
During the visit, Ambassador Knapper had the opportunity to tour the Mekong Delta via boat along with ecologists to learn firsthand the impact of climate change on the local environment, communities, public health, and the economy.
He also met with environmental experts at the DRAGON-Mekong Institute to discuss their cutting-edge research, training and impacts of climate change on major river deltas such as the Mekong.
Through the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, the United States continues to assist Lower Mekong countries in promoting stability, peace, prosperity and sustainable development. USAID in Vietnam has funded many projects on forest management and biodiversity and conservation across the nation to help Vietnam reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Ambassador Knapper also met with the Can Tho University leadership to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to a partnership focused on education through people-to-people ties and continued collaboration for environmental sustainability.
He addressed students at the American Hangout and encouraged them to invest in the planet and to remember that “caring for our environments is not just a government challenge, but a community responsibility”. He urged the students to take action to help mitigate climate change and restore ecosystems.
The ambassador later met the alumni of U.S. government-sponsored programs who have designed meaningful projects on education, environment, entrepreneurship, gender equality, and continue to work together to strengthen the U.S.-Vietnam partnership.
On April 8, Ambassador Knapper attended the launch of “The Interceptor 003,” a solar-powered robot that extracts marine debris on the Can Tho River, and a showcase to honor local health care workers for their tireless efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
