HANOI, Sept 11 (Askume) – China said on Wednesday it was cooperating with Vietnam on flood control, as Vietnamese authorities expressed concern that water levels in a major river were rising due to water releases from Chinese hydropower plants.
Vietnam has been battling landslides and flooding caused by Typhoon Yagi for several days .
Their foreign ministries said the two countries were cooperating to reduce risks in the mainstream of the Red River .
But officials in Ha Giang city, near the Chinese border, warned on Wednesday that water released from Chinese dams could raise water levels in the Lo River, a tributary of the Red River, according to a document and Vietnamese state media reports.
When asked at a regular press conference about the release of water from the dam whether Beijing was cooperating with Vietnam on the Luo River issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said the two countries were “maintaining close and effective communication and cooperating on flood control.”
“China’s hydropower stations on the main stream of the Red River are holding back water to assist Vietnam’s flood control,” he said, without elaborating on the situation on the Luo River.
The Loc River crossed Vietnam’s northern province on Wednesday and joined the Red River about 80 kilometers (49 miles) northwest of Hanoi.
This information was briefly posted on the websites of Ha Giang Province and Vietnam’s national television station VTV, but was later removed.
Vietnam faces a difficult balance in its relations with neighbouring China, which is concerned about trade ties vital to its economy and the need to preserve close ties built by the ruling Communist Party.
Vietnam’s Deputy Agriculture Minister Nguyen Hoang Hiep later confirmed that the Chinese dam had released water on Wednesday afternoon, but said the impact on Vietnam would be minimal.
“China sent written notice to Vietnam in advance so we can prepare,” Ship told a state news portal.
“The emissions are also very small and will have an impact on downstream Vietnam, but the impact will not be significant.”
