Full text of Minister Dang Quoc Khanh's speech at the Ceremony to respond to World Oceans Day and World Environment Day 2023

Nghe An , June 4, 2023

- Dear Comrade Thai Thanh Quy, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation, Chairman of the People's Council of Nghe An province; Leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee of Nghe An province ;

- Dear Comrade Hoang Trung Dung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Ha Tinh Province;

- Dear Comrade Nguyen Thanh Binh, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Head of the Central Organizing Committee, President of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly;

- Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program in Vietnam;

- Dear leaders of ministries, departments, branches and agencies at the central and local levels;

- Dear international guests, delegates, distinguished guests;

- Dear all people.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh speaks at the National Launching Ceremony of Vietnam Sea and Islands Week, Action Month for the Environment, Responding to World Oceans Day, World Environment Day 2023

Today, together with more than 150 countries around 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 traditions with many potentials and development advantages to solemnly organize the National Launching Ceremony of Vietnam Sea and Islands Week, Action Month for the Environment in response to World Oceans Day, World Environment Day 2023.

On behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, I would like to express my sincere thanks and warmly welcome the presence of the leaders and representatives of the Party, National Assembly, Government, Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Ministries, departments, branches, agencies and organizations at the Central level; distinguished guests representing the United Nations Resident Mission in Vietnam, international organizations; leaders of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Nghe An province; representatives of the leaders of the provinces and centrally-run cities, press agencies and all delegates and people attending and watching live on television this solemn ceremony.

Dear delegates and guests!

Human life has always been closely linked to the natural environment, in which the sea and ocean cover more than 2/3 of the surface, contain more than 95% of the water on Earth, play an important role in maintaining economic activities, cultural and spiritual values of people. Oceans, seas and coastal areas are very important for food security and public health, contributing essentially to hunger eradication and poverty reduction through creating sustainable livelihoods.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh informed that humanity is facing extremely urgent issues regarding the environment, climate change and rising sea levels. Among them, the long-standing burning issue that many countries are concerned about is the problem of ocean plastic waste and unsustainable exploitation and use of marine resources.

However, humanity is facing extremely urgent environmental issues, climate change and rising sea levels. Among them, the long-standing burning issue that many countries are concerned about is the problem of ocean plastic waste and unsustainable exploitation and use of marine resources. This is a global issue, requiring response efforts from each country as well as close cooperation from the international community.

Since 2018, the United Nations has launched the theme “Solving plastic and nylon pollution” to promote, mobilize, and call on everyone to change their habits of using disposable plastic products, reduce environmental pollution, and protect human health. Since then, many countries around the world have taken specific actions to reduce and ban the use of some environmentally unfriendly plastic products, while increasing the recycling, reuse, and circulation of plastic waste.

Once again, “Solutions to plastic pollution” with a focus on 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, the life of humanity depends on the ocean; humanity needs to join hands to protect the ocean as well as our entire blue planet.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh participates in picking up trash in response to the campaign "Anti-plastic pollution" (Beat Plastic Pollution)

Dear delegates!

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 linked to 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, marine ecosystems; ensuring harmony between economic and natural ecosystems, between conservation and development, between the interests of coastal and non-coastal localities; strengthening linkages, restructuring sectors and fields towards improving productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness; 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.

Minister Dang Quoc Khanh respectfully thanked international partners for accompanying Vietnam in general and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in particular over the past years.

But like many other countries, we are facing many challenges when the problem 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 countries vulnerable and subject to many negative impacts of climate change, environmental pollution, and rising sea levels. That poses many challenges to the implementation of the country's poverty reduction goals, millennium development goals and sustainable development, requiring us to have practical and timely response solutions.

In recent times, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has actively advised the Party and the State to issue many important guidelines and policies on resource management, environmental protection, response to climate change and sustainable development of the marine economy such as: Resolution No. 24/NQ-TW of the Central Executive Committee of the Party (11th tenure) on Proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection; Resolution No. 36/NQ-TW of the Central Executive Committee of the Party (12th tenure) on the Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, with a vision to 2045; Law on Environmental Protection 2020; Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment 2015; Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of resources, protection of marine and island environment to 2030, with a vision to 2050; National environmental protection strategy to 2030, vision to 2050 and many other important legal documents and projects.

Thereby, the community's awareness of the harmful effects of plastic products and single-use plastic bags on the environment, ecosystem and human health has been gradually raised; the Prime Minister's policies and directives on limiting the use of single-use plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic bags; encouraging the production of environmentally friendly products to replace traditional plastic products have been implemented synchronously nationwide; many movements to prevent and combat plastic waste have been launched, attracting the participation of a large number of people.

Marine economy, sea and coastal areas are becoming the driving force for national development; infrastructure systems are receiving investment attention; the material and spiritual life of coastal people is improved. Scientific research, basic investigation, and human resource development in the marine sector have achieved many positive results. The management, exploitation, use, and protection of marine environmental resources, and response to climate change and rising sea levels are focused on.

However, Vietnam's environmental protection and management of marine and island resources are still facing many difficulties and challenges. The marine environment shows signs of pollution; natural resources and biodiversity continue to decline; exploitation and use of marine and island resources are still ineffective and unsustainable. People's awareness of resource exploitation and use is low, and the habit of consuming single-use plastic products has been and is posing great pressure on environmental management and protection.

Dear delegates and guests,

This year's World Environment Day and World Oceans Day are an opportunity for us to affirm our determination, 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 Dang Quoc Khanh and delegates participated in tree planting at the event.

Today, at this solemn ceremony, where the beautiful Cua Lo beach is blessed by nature with many advantages in terms of resources and potential for developing the marine economy, I would like to announce the launch of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Week, the Month of Action for the Environment in response to World Oceans Day and World Environment Day 2023. I call on ministries, branches, central agencies, 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; exploiting and sustainably using marine and island resources, focusing on the following tasks and solutions:

Firstly , unify 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 promote the development of a civilized marine ecological community; consider this the ethical and cultural standard of each agency, organization, community, enterprise and citizen.

Second, implement environmental management, 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 oceanic areas, ensuring suitability for each sea area and the resilience of the ecosystem.

Focus on developing multi-purpose, synchronous infrastructure, especially the transport network, speeding up investment in the construction of Vietnam's coastal roads according to the plan; synchronous development, forming economic zones, industrial parks, and coastal ecological urban areas associated with the formation and development of strong marine economic centers playing a leading role in regional development and inter-regional connectivity; strengthening the connection between coastal areas and inland areas.

Third, prioritize investment, promote basic investigation, scientific and technological research, and develop high-quality marine human resources. Strengthen environmental protection, especially in coastal areas; improve and enhance the quality of the marine environment, minimize resource degradation, and sustainably develop marine biodiversity; properly handle sources of marine and ocean pollution from land, and minimize plastic waste through enhanced control of collection, recycling, and reuse of plastic bags and single-use plastic products; limit and eventually end the import, production, and supply of non-degradable plastic bags at shopping centers and supermarkets nationwide for daily use.

Fourth, 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; promote sustainable aquaculture and seafood exploitation activities, enhance protection and regeneration of marine resources; promote investment in construction and exploitation of wind power, solar power and other forms of renewable energy; improve productivity, quality, and international competitiveness of marine economic sectors; develop sea areas based on advantages in natural conditions, harmonizing conservation and development.

Support and encourage businesses and people to invest, produce and use environmentally friendly materials to replace packaging and products that are difficult to decompose. Implement preferential policies, tax exemptions and reductions on environmentally friendly products and materials to replace single-use plastic products, difficult-to-decompose nylon bags and materials that pose a risk of causing environmental pollution.

Fifth, continue to expand and strengthen cooperation with countries, partners and international and regional organizations on the basis of respecting the 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. Promoting the heroic historical tradition of the nation, resolutely and persistently protecting the sacred sovereignty of seas and islands and national interests at sea; resolving disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially UNCLOS 1982, creatively applying historical lessons, combining national strength with the strength of the times and the support and consensus of the international community to firmly protect the sovereignty of seas and islands and marine economic activities.

Sixth, effectively carry out propaganda, education and raise awareness of the country's seas and islands, of 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; develop cultural institutions for coastal and marine communities; promote national identity, historical and cultural values, good knowledge in dealing with the sea, and build a marine culture.

Press agencies and mass media need to actively promote contents related to limiting the use of plastic bags and plastic waste to the community, discover and praise examples, models, and effective practices in the management, exploitation, and sustainable use of marine and island resources to create a widespread effect and illuminate the common efforts of the whole society.

Dear delegates and guests,

I believe that, with the spirit of learning in international cooperation and solidarity, unity and efforts within the country, we will achieve certain successes in the work of protecting resources and the environment, protecting the sacred sea and islands of the Fatherland. Each citizen, business and organization in society will be an active and enthusiastic nucleus, playing an important role in the process of reducing plastic pollution, protecting the environment, responding to climate change while promoting the potential advantages of the sea, implementing sustainable economic development of the country, creating the premise for Vietnam to move closer to the goal of building a future of "living in harmony with nature" by 2050.

"With the joint response of the entire people and society, I believe that we will definitely succeed!" - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh emphasized.

With the joint response of the people and society, I believe that We will succeed!

Once again, on behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government for always paying close attention and directing the work of resource management and environmental protection, and sustainable development of the country's marine economy.

We would like to sincerely thank the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the people of Nghe An province for coordinating to organize activities in response to World Environment Day and World Oceans Day 2023 with good results.

Thank you to the Ministries, departments, branches and localities; and the press agencies that attended and reported on this solemn ceremony.

I wish all delegates, distinguished guests and all the people good health, happiness and success. May our cause of environmental protection and sustainable management of marine and island resources achieve more achievements, and may Vietnam soon become a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea.

Thank you very much./.

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