Taking place over 3 days from September 11 to 13, the conference brings together scientists, researchers, managers and young parliamentarians from Vietnam, Asia-Pacific, Africa and other regions of the world to share knowledge, present research results and discuss issues related to water security and insecurity. This is a very important international issue and requires peaceful solutions based on science to solve together.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai emphasized: In the context of increasingly negative and unpredictable impacts of climate change, water security is an issue of particular concern to Vietnam. In recent times, Vietnam has had many solutions, focusing on perfecting the legal system with over 100 legal documents related to water. At the 6th Session in October, the National Assembly will consider and pass the Law on Water Resources (amended) to regulate the overall water issue. The National Assembly is also requesting agencies to review relevant laws to ensure the completion of the legal framework on water security.

In addition, Vietnam is implementing many other solutions such as: planning, regulating water, transferring water in river basins; investing in resources, developing infrastructure to ensure water security; scientific and technological solutions in forecasting, constructing and operating water storage, water transfer works; water circulation, using water economically and effectively; replenishing water sources; strengthening international cooperation to share experiences in water security management.

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Quoc Hai stated that in recent times, Vietnam has proactively and actively proposed activities and participated in global initiatives of the IPU. Vietnam highly appreciates the efforts and initiatives of the IPU as a global inter-parliamentary cooperation mechanism, which has supported and closely coordinated with the Vietnamese National Assembly to promote the role of parliamentary cooperation to join hands in addressing global challenges.

In particular, this weekend, the Vietnamese National Assembly and the IPU will organize the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Hanoi. This will be an important event attracting the participation and contribution of young parliamentarians around the world to the implementation of the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development by 2030.

Within the framework of this Workshop, with the desire to cooperate with the regional and international community to ensure national water security, reduce disagreements on sustainable exploitation and use of water, and build peace through scientific cooperation, the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly suggested that delegates share the challenges they are facing and exchange solutions, lessons and experiences in achieving this goal.

"We also hope that the delegates attending the Workshop will agree to commit to the goals that we will implement in the coming time so that the theme "Water security and insecurity: Building peace through science" is useful content for the participating countries; for the prosperity of the countries along with ensuring water security; successfully implementing the global Sustainable Development Goals by 2030", the Vice Chairman of the National Assembly emphasized.

Binh Dinh Provincial Party Secretary Ho Quoc Dung said that this is the first event marking the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the IPU and the ICISE Center. The conference is of great significance in the context of “peace, stability and development cooperation” facing major challenges. At this event, issues related to water security and insecurity based on scientific solutions to build peace will be mentioned, analyzed and clarified. This event also contributes to strengthening the relationship between the scientific community and the world parliamentary union community in support of science and world peace.

According to Professor Tran Thanh Van, Director of ICISE, this workshop is the main activity of the series of workshops and conferences “Science for Peace” of IPU to realize the vision of unity through science for the purpose of peaceful coexistence and to act as a platform for dialogue between parliaments on topics related to the core goals of IPU. This is the vision and future path for sustainable development for our green earth.

The workshop had 9 discussion sessions with in-depth topics such as: Science and politics; Earth observation programs for water monitoring; Typical legislative practices; Multilateral, regional and bilateral diplomacy on water resources for transboundary cooperation; Human rights-based approaches to water security and peace; Innovation in water treatment technology to ensure water security; Promoting water security through community science; Inter-Parliamentary Union Network on water resources; Science diplomacy and Predictive science.