AWC 2025: Viet Nam affirms its role as bridge for regional water cooperation

The 23^rd Asia Water Council (AWC) Summit and AWC 2025 Technical Workshop will be held in Hanoi under the theme "Sustainable Water Governance, Digital Transformation, and Investment Cooperation for the Future."

As the Asian region is facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change, extreme and irregular natural disasters, declining water resources, and urbanization pressures, this year's AWC 2025 theme reflects the Council's strategic vision, integrating sustainable water governance with digital transformation and investment cooperation, in line with global trends toward green growth and data-driven governance.

The 23^rd AWC Summit takes place in the context of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and South Korea developing strongly, particularly following General Secretary To Lam's state visit to South Korea in August 2025. During the visit, both sides agreed on many new cooperation directions in the water, climate, and green growth fields.

The AWC Summit is co-organized by the Vietnam Water and Environment Association (VWEA), the Northern Federation for Water Resources Planning and Investigation (NVWATER), and the Asia Water Council (AWC), under the chairmanship of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

This year's Summit also serves as an opportunity for Viet Nam to affirm its role as a bridge in the Asian water cooperation network, from Mekong–Lancang cooperation and the ASEAN Water Forum to United Nations programs. Projects and initiatives introduced during the Summit and Technical Workshop are expected to enhance resilience to drought, saltwater intrusion, and flooding, particularly in the Mekong Delta and Central Viet Nam.

According to the Organizing Committee of the 23rd AWC Summit, more than 100 delegates, including 38 representatives from Asian countries and international organizations, will attend, joining efforts toward a sustainable future for the region's water resources.

In addition to the main discussion sessions on technological solutions and digital transformation in the water sector, the Summit will feature technology exchange activities between Viet Nam and South Korea, bilateral meetings between the leader of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the President of AWC, business networking forums (B2B and B2G), technology exhibitions, and cultural exchange activities.

The Asia Water Council (AWC) was established in 2016 in South Korea, chaired by the Ministry of Environment of South Korea (ME Korea) and K-water Corporation. As of 2025, the AWC has brought together more than 170 member organizations from 26 countries, including government agencies, research institutes, enterprises, and international organizations working in the water sector. The Council focuses on strategic themes such as water security, smart water governance, climate change, water and energy, and cross-border sustainable development cooperation.

The successful hosting of the Summit in Hanoi will lay the foundation for Viet Nam's continued contributions to the 5^th AWC General Assembly in 2026 and the 4^th Asia International Water Week (AIWW) in 2027.