Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh at the event (Photo: VNA)Addressing the event, Vice President Dang ThiNgoc Thinh said themed “For Our Future”, the Vietnam Seas and Islands Week 2017from June 1-8 aims to raise public awareness of the importance of seas andislands, the responsibility towards sea and island sovereignty protection, andthe management and sustainable development of marine resources and environment.
She emphasised that generations of Vietnamesepeople have sacrificed their lives to establish and protect the country’smaritime territory. It is necessary to combine defence-security tasks withsocio-economic development activities in sea and island areas, proactivelyprotect the country’s rights and interests, and attract resources fordeveloping the sea-based economy.
Minister of Natural Resources and EnvironmentTran Hong Ha said seas and oceans make up two-thirds of the earth’s surfacearea and are a critical to human life. However, they are being seriouslythreatened by human activities.
This year’s World Oceans Day is themed “OurOceans, Our Future”, which calls for people’s unity in protecting oceans, thelife and the planet, he noted.
Despite considerable achievements in the 10years of implementing the Vietnam Sea Strategy towards 2020, the country is stillfacing a number of major challenges, including marine resourcesoverexploitation, marine pollution, and flaws in marine environment management.
Ha added the World Oceans Day and the VietnamSeas and Islands Week are an occasion to strengthen the commitment toprotecting seas and islands, optimise marine advantages to boost economicdevelopment, and maintain the huge values of seas and oceans, thereby joiningglobal efforts to protect oceans.
At the ceremony, Vice President Thinh and otherparticipants released shrimp and fish fry into the sea and planted trees onKhai Long beach of Dat Mui commune. They also presented gifts to soldiers andresidents in Hon Chuoi Island of Ca Mau province.-VNA
VNA
