Degation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam led by Vice Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep

During the meeting with SECO, Vice Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep expressed his deep appreciation to the Government of Switzerland, SECO, and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) for their effective support to Vietnam in the areas of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation. He particularly acknowledged Switzerland’s emergency aid to Vietnam following Typhoon Yagi in 2024.

The two sides discussed future cooperation priorities, focusing on the application of new technologies, financial solutions for disaster prevention, and capacity building for communities. Vietnam proposed the development of a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control and SECO to formalize and detail areas of cooperation.

The Vietnamese delegation also introduced two concrete cooperation proposals:

• Enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in mountainous urban areas;

• Establishing the first Disaster Preparedness Experience Center in Vietnam, with support from the Governments of Switzerland and Germany.

The meeting opened up promising opportunities for substantive and sustainable cooperation, aiming toward building safer and more resilient communities.

Later that day, the Vietnamese delegation held a working session with the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP), Switzerland’s central coordinating body for national civil protection.

Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam led by Vice Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep at the meeting

FOCP representatives shared insights on the structure and key development milestones of Switzerland’s civil protection system, particularly highlighting: a modern multi-tiered early warning system, comprehensive disaster risk databases, emergency response scenarios, and multi-agency coordination protocols at all levels.

The Swiss side also presented an overview of common hazards in the country, including flash floods, landslides, avalanches, debris flows, and wildfires—especially prevalent in high mountain and deep valley regions. To respond effectively, Switzerland has built an integrated warning system that combines meteorological, geological, hydrological, and emergency communication data to ensure timely alerts and safe evacuations.

Both sides exchanged experiences on enhancing community resilience, building local multi-sectoral coordination mechanisms, and implementing protection policies for vulnerable groups in disaster situations.

The Vietnamese delegation commended Switzerland’s comprehensive and effective civil protection system and expressed interest in enhancing technical cooperation—particularly in early warning, disaster risk mapping, and emergency response coordination.

The working session marked a significant step toward stronger ties between the two countries’ specialized agencies and opened avenues for mutual learning and the transfer of valuable knowledge in disaster risk management and community protection.