Minister of Natural Resources and Environment attends the launching ceremony of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Week in Cua Lo

Delegates attending the Launching Ceremony. Photo: Quang An

Join hands to protect the marine environment and reduce plastic waste

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh emphasized: Today, together with more than 150 countries in the world, we are present in Nghe An - the homeland of the great and beloved President Ho Chi Minh of the Vietnamese people, a land rich in revolutionary tradition with many potentials and development advantages to solemnly organize the launching ceremony of the National Week of Vietnam Sea and Islands, Action Month for the Environment in response to World Oceans Day and World Environment Day 2023.

This year's World Environment Day and World Oceans Day are an opportunity for us to affirm our determination to change our awareness, unite our actions, proactively overcome difficulties and challenges, prevent the increase in the rate of pollution and environmental degradation; exploit and use marine and island resources sustainably, ensure ecological balance; gradually replace the use of hard-to-decompose plastic bags with environmentally friendly products in our daily lives, contributing to environmental protection for the goal of sustainable national development.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh emphasized the role of marine environmental protection in the country's socio-economic development. Photo: Quang An

The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment called on ministries, branches, agencies, organizations at the central level, local authorities, organizations, individuals and businesses to take practical actions to solve the problem of plastic waste pollution, contributing to environmental protection, sea and ocean protection; and sustainable exploitation and use of marine and island resources.

"Once again, "Solutions to plastic pollution" with a focus on implementing the "Beat Plastic Pollution" Campaign continues to be chosen as the theme of World Environment Day 2023. This message, together with the theme "Ocean Planet: The Tide is Changing" of World Oceans Day, strongly conveys the message of building a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature; emphasizing the role of the ocean, human life depends on the ocean; humanity needs to join hands to protect the ocean as well as our entire blue planet".

Comrade Dang Quoc Khanh - Member of the Party Central Committee, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment

Plastic waste is a huge environmental concern. Photo: Quang An

According to the Minister, it is necessary to be unified in perception and action to behave responsibly towards the sea and ocean according to the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and international law; overcome and eliminate the mindset of pursuing immediate economic benefits while disregarding the maintenance and protection of the environment, further promoting the development of a civilized marine ecological community; considering this as the ethical and cultural standard of each agency, organization, community, enterprise, and citizen.

Implement management, environmental protection and sustainable development of seas and islands, effectively deploy appropriate strategies and policies to limit ocean plastic waste, conserve biodiversity, restore marine ecosystems; promote responsible farming and exploitation in offshore and ocean areas, ensuring suitability for each sea area and the resilience of the ecosystem.

Leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam Association of the Elderly presented gifts of gratitude to the elderly in Nghe An. Photo: Quang An

Vietnam is a maritime nation and the sea is a component of the sacred sovereignty of the Fatherland, a living space, a gateway for international exchange, closely associated with the cause of building and defending the Fatherland.

Sustainable development of the marine economy is one of the major policies of our Party and State, with the viewpoint of sustainable development of the marine economy on the basis of green growth, conservation of biodiversity and marine ecosystems; ensuring harmony between economic and natural ecosystems; promoting the potential and advantages of the sea, creating momentum for the country's economic development, achieving the goal of making Vietnam a strong maritime nation.

However, Vietnam is currently facing many challenges as the issue of white pollution is closely related to economic development and social stability. With about 50% of the country's population living in low-lying and coastal areas, Vietnam is considered one of the most vulnerable countries and is subject to many negative impacts of climate change, environmental pollution, and rising sea levels. This poses many challenges to the implementation of hunger eradication and poverty reduction goals.

Vietnam will prioritize investment, promote basic investigation, scientific and technological research, and develop high-quality marine human resources. Make the most of advantages to develop tourism and marine services to make Vietnam an attractive destination in the world; exploit seaports and maritime transport services synchronously and effectively; improve the efficiency of exploiting marine mineral resources associated with deep processing, research, and exploration of new sedimentary basins and non-traditional hydrocarbons...

In addition, Vietnam continues to expand and strengthen cooperation with countries, partners and international and regional organizations on the basis of respecting sovereignty, rights and legitimate interests of coastal countries, complying with international law, UNCLOS 1982, ensuring maritime security and safety, contributing to building a peaceful, stable, cooperative and developing environment.

Carry out well the work of propaganda, education and raising awareness about the sea and islands of the Fatherland, about the awareness of protecting marine resources and environment; turn awareness into self-consciousness and specific, practical actions at each level, each sector, each enterprise and each individual; build a society, awareness, lifestyle, cultural behavior attached to and friendly with the sea...

Nghe An has many advantages in developing marine economy.

Leaders of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces presented flags to fishermen at sea. Photo: Quang An

Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized the role of marine economy in Nghe An. Photo: Quang An

At the ceremony, the leaders of Nghe An province also informed about the situation of the sea and islands of Nghe An. Nghe An has many advantages in developing the marine economy and in fact, the marine economy accounts for a very significant proportion in the economic structure of the province. Up to now, the marine economy and coastal areas are gradually becoming the driving force for the socio-economic development of the province; since 2018, the average annual contribution has been over 26% of the total production value in the province.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh and other units and organizations join hands to clean Cua Lo beach. Photo: Quang An

Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee also said: With the policy of strongly orienting towards the sea and getting rich from the sea, Nghe An province has been focusing on mobilizing all investment capital sources for marine economic development such as: building infrastructure systems to exploit the potential and position of the sea; building appropriate mechanisms and policies, promoting administrative procedure reform to promote marine economic development; proactively promoting and establishing friendly and cooperative relations with provinces and cities that have many similarities with Nghe An and have potential and strengths in marine economy,... striving to build Nghe An province with a modern marine science and technology foundation, developing the marine economy effectively and sustainably, ensuring national defense, security and sovereignty at sea.

Delegates plant trees to protect the environment. Photo: Quang An

In the coming time, Nghe An province will step up propaganda and mobilize all classes of people to raise awareness of protecting resources and the environment in order to preserve and promote the value of marine and island resources and environment.

Focus on educating and raising awareness of cadres, party members and people of all walks of life about the position, role and importance of the sea in the province's socio-economic development, ensuring national defense and security; protecting the environment, responding to climate change and preventing and combating natural disasters.

Within the framework of the launching ceremony, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in collaboration with the Vietnam Association of the Elderly presented gifts of gratitude to the Nghe An Association of the Elderly. The leaders of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces presented the National Flag to the fishermen, under the program "One million national flags with fishermen at sea" of the Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper.

At the end of the launching ceremony, leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, departments, branches, units, and leaders of Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces joined hands to clean up Cua Lo beach environment and plant trees to protect the environment./.

Quang An