AWC 2025: Vietnam affirms its role as a bridge for regional water sector cooperation

The 23rd Asia Water Council (AWC) Summit and the AWC 2025 Technical Workshop will take place from November 5-6.

The 23rd Asia Water Council (AWC) Summit and AWC 2025 Technical Workshop will be held in Hanoi with the theme "Sustainable water resources governance, digital transformation and investment cooperation for the future".

In the context of the Asian region facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change, extreme natural disasters, water resource depletion and urbanization pressure, this year's theme of AWC 2025 reflects the Council's strategic vision, linking sustainable water governance with digital transformation and investment cooperation, in line with the global trend of green growth and data science- based governance.

The 23rd AWC Conference will take place in the context of the strong development of the Vietnam - Korea Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, especially after the State visit of General Secretary To Lam to Korea in August 2025. The two sides have agreed on many new cooperation orientations in the fields of water, climate and green growth.

The 22nd Asia Water Council (AWC) meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: AWC.

The event was co-organized by the Vietnam Water and Environment Association (VWEA), the Northern Water Resources Planning and Investigation Federation (NVWATER) in collaboration with the Asian Water Council (AWC), under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

This Summit is also an opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its bridging role in the Asian water cooperation network, from the Mekong - Lancang cooperation, the ASEAN Water Forum to United Nations programs. The projects and initiatives introduced within the framework of the conference and technical workshop promise to contribute to improving the capacity to respond to drought, saltwater intrusion and flooding, especially in the Mekong Delta and Central Vietnam.

According to the Organizing Committee, there will be more than 100 delegates attending the 23rd Asian Water Council Conference, including 38 delegates from Asian countries and international organizations, joining hands towards a sustainable future for regional water resources.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Secretary General of the Thai Water Resources Office attend the 4th Mekong River Commission Summit in May 2023 in Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Photo: VNA.

In addition to the main discussion sessions on technology solutions and digital transformation of the water sector, the conference will feature technology exchange activities between Vietnamese and Korean enterprises, bilateral meetings between leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Chairman of AWC, a business connection forum (B2B, B2G), a technology exhibition and foreign cultural exchanges.

The Asia Water Council (AWC) was established in 2016 in Korea, under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Environment of Korea (ME Korea) and K-water Group.

As of 2025, AWC has brought together more than 170 member organizations from 26 countries, including government agencies, research institutes, businesses and international organizations working in the water sector. The Council focuses on strategic topics such as water security, smart water governance, climate change, water and energy, as well as cross-border sustainable development cooperation.

The success of the conference in Hanoi will be a premise for Vietnam to continue contributing to the 5th AWC General Assembly in 2026 and the 4th Asia International Water Week (AIWW) in 2027.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/awc-2025-viet-nam-khang-dinh-vai-tro-cau-noi-hop-tac-nganh-nuoc-khu-vuc-d782040.html