The FAO-ESCAP pilot project on national water visions. From vision ...

IV. WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINTS
1. Aggregate water resources management
In conferences and forums on water resources, Viet Nam has expressed her determination to
guarantee water and ecosystem sustainability and has supported the view on aggregate water
resources management that making full use of water and other natural resources implies conserving
the environment. In this context, the Global Water Partnership has made the following three points:
• <strong>The</strong> evaluation of water resources quality and quantity must be carried out based on soil
examination.
• Water distribution includes distribution of fresh water and reused water.
• Strategy and mechanisms on water resources exploitation and control, in the context of
limited water resources and capital, should deal with the improvement of the welfare system.
Globally, aggregate water resources management was agreed to unanimously in conferences on water
resources and the environment held in Dublin (January 1992) and in Rio de Janeiro (June 1992) as
follows:
• Fresh water is a limited and easily eroded natural resource but it is essential to living and to
economic development.
• Water resources development and management must be carried out based on the joint
participation of water users and policymakers at all levels.
• Women play the central role in water supply, management and conservation.
• Water has economic value and must be recognized as a commodity.
<strong>The</strong> Pacific-Asian consultative conference on water held by ADB in June 1996 issued seven strategic
guidelines, as follows:
• Working out national policies and programmes on water.
• Investing in the management of a country’s key river basins.
• Intensifying the sense of responsibility and self-support of water-supplying agencies.
• Introducing punishment and reward to improve people’s knowledge of sustainable water
usage.
• Managing the use of shared water resources and developing cooperation.
• Improving the exchange of information, consultation and cooperation on water.
• Increasing supervision, and exchanging experience.
2. Water vision for 2025
Viet Nam has set up a water vision subcommittee, which held a conference on the national water
vision. <strong>The</strong> conference centred on:
• Obstacles on water resources development.
• Consultations on a strategy for water resources development.
• Classification of water demands: demands that can be satisfied locally; demands that need
international support to be satisfied.
• Classification of groups: one group for organizations and individuals to support Viet Nam and
one group of organizations and individuals to support other countries.
• Reports on the vision and the framework for action.
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