Opening the Quy Nhon Dialogue on Climate and Transition 2026, Dung said Vietnam’s pursuit of double-digit economic growth and its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 required climate action to become a driver of development.
The challenge, he said, was how to make the transition generate fresh economic momentum while meeting climate goals.
The forum brought together more than 100 senior delegates from Vietnam, Southeast Asia and international partners at the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE).
Participants included government representatives, scientists, businesses, international organisations, financial institutions and development banks.
Mr. Ho Quoc Dung said climate change was advancing faster and causing more severe effects than predicted, directly affecting countries’ economic and social development.
Developing nations also faced substantial demands for finance, technology and the capacity to implement their transitions.
He called for climate action to be closely linked to development priorities, balancing emissions reductions with energy, food and water security, as well as economic and social stability.
A sustainable transition should expand opportunities for businesses and communities, he said.
Affordable finance and a fair transition
Deputy PM Ho Quoc Dung stressed that transition plans must reflect each country’s circumstances, including its economic structure, energy infrastructure, technological capabilities and exposure to climate risks.
He reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for multilateralism, the Paris Agreement and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, taking account of national capabilities.
For developing countries, securing more funding was only part of the challenge. They also needed affordable finance, access to technology and stronger domestic expertise, he said.
Mr. Ho Quoc Dung urged closer coordination between public funding, concessional finance, multilateral development banks, climate funds and private investment.
People should remain at the centre of the transition, he added. Progress should be assessed through protection from natural disasters, access to skills and jobs, opportunities for business innovation and the participation of vulnerable groups, alongside emissions reductions and funding raised.
Turning discussions into action
Mr. Ho Quoc Dung proposed three priorities for the Quy Nhon Dialogue: grounding policy discussions in scientific evidence, addressing practical development challenges and translating exchanges into sustained cooperation.
Decisions on energy, technology, infrastructure and investment could have lasting consequences, he said, requiring objective, interdisciplinary research that connects international expertise with the needs of Vietnam and the region.
He also called for scientists, particularly younger researchers, to have greater opportunities to contribute to policymaking.
Practical discussions should cover energy security, affordable funding, resilient cities and infrastructure, technological innovation, workforce development and the protection of public interests.
The forum’s value, Dung said, should be demonstrated through continuing partnerships, research programmes, policy proposals and joint initiatives.
He expressed government support for developing the dialogue into a respected annual forum and asked relevant ministries and agencies to work with Gia Lai province and the organisers on future programmes.
Gia Lai backs annual forum from 2027
Gia Lai provincial Party Secretary Thai Dai Ngoc said the province was ready to support the annual organisation of the dialogue in Quy Nhon from 2027.
He said the forum could connect scientific knowledge with policy decisions, align resources with practical needs and strengthen Vietnam’s and Southeast Asia’s contributions to international climate efforts.
For Gia Lai, it also offered opportunities to learn from international experience, improve policymaking and expand cooperation for long-term development.
Professor Tran Thanh Van, president of the Rencontres du Vietnam Association and director of ICISE, said Vietnam’s exposure to climate change gave it a role in shaping transition pathways suited to developing countries.
He said the dialogue aimed to provide an open, trusted setting for scientists, policymakers, financial institutions and businesses to exchange ideas and develop practical projects.
The event was jointly organised by Rencontres du Vietnam and ICISE, with support from the French Development Agency, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Gia Lai provincial People’s Committee and regional and international partners.
Participants included French Ambassador to Vietnam Didier Le Bret and Csaba Kőrösi, president of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in 2022–2023.
Plenary sessions, parallel discussions and workshops covered climate science, energy security, decarbonisation, transition finance, value chains, climate resilience and related economic and investment policies.
International Cooperation: The Key to Addressing Climate Change
At the opening ceremony, H.E. Didier Le Bret, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Vietnam, emphasized that responding to climate change and the green transition is no longer solely the domain of the environmental sector, but is closely linked to energy security, financial stability, trade, and technological competitiveness.
In this context, international cooperation and the connection between science and policy-making are crucial, as no country can tackle these challenges alone.
Ambassador Didier Le Bret noted that Southeast Asia is a dynamically developing region but also highly vulnerable to climate change. Therefore, ensuring economic growth, energy security, and resilience to climate risks must be considered in close relation, requiring innovation in international cooperation approaches.
The organization of the Quy Nhon Dialogue also reflects the longstanding friendship and scientific cooperation between Vietnam and France, further strengthened by the two countries’ upgrade to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024.
Through AFD, France has supported many countries in the region in developing and implementing low-carbon development strategies. In Vietnam, cooperation programs have also helped promote policy dialogue and support the implementation of climate adaptation projects.