While meeting with Israeli Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shalom Simhon in Hanoi on May 8, Minister Truc said that Vietnam and Israel should exchange technologies to better use water resources, develop irrigation systems and wastewater treatment facilities and step up the recycling of water.

Although Vietnam has realized the need to use water resources in a suitable way, it has failed to do so because of climate issues and poor public awareness, he said.

Meanwhile, members of a wide-ranging social network on water resources protection and scientists expressed their concerns at the degradation of water resources, especially rivers, in the country at a workshop in Hanoi on May 8.

Participants at the workshop said a booming population and overexploitation of not only water but also land and forest resources are the main causes of the deterioration in water resources in Vietnam in recent years. They also laid the blame on uncontrolled urbanization and industrial development.