New York (VNA) – Vietnam believes that close andeffective cooperation among coastal countries is the only solution to dealingwith challenges and preventing water resources conflicts, said Ambassador PhamThi Kim Anh, deputy head of the Vietnam Mission to the United Nations.

At a debate on water, peace and security recently held in New York, the US, Anhsaid climate change, pollution, degradation in water resources, unsustainableuse and unreasonable allocation of water resources could pose risks to regionalsecurity.

Anh urged concerned countries to consider buildingcooperation frameworks and a Code of Conduct on sustainable management and useof water resources, thus ensuring interests of upstream and downstreamcountries.

Vietnam wishes that countries would share experience andstrengthen financial and technical support while the United Nations SecurityCouncil would facilitate the implementation of the 1997 United Nations Conventionon the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses.

Representatives underlined the importance of trans-bordercooperation as part of preventive diplomacy and paying attention to forecast,preparedness and response.

They urged the UN to strengthen its role in achieving 17sustainable development goals, especially ensuring the availability andsustainable management of water resources and improving hygiene for allcitizens.

They called for promoting water cooperation via multilateralmechanisms such as the UN Water and the Global High-Level Panel on Water andPeace, as well as respecting international law on water, including the 1997United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses ofInternational Watercourses.-VNA