PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans, and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius in HCM City on November 28. (Photo: VNA)PM Chinh said as Vietnam, especiallyits Mekong Delta, is highly vulnerable to climate change, it has builtprogrammes, strategies, and plans for green development. However, as adeveloping country with a low starting point, fairness and justice need to beguaranteed during the transition process.
He called on the international communityto assist Vietnam in finance, science - technology, personnel training,governance experience, and building of a legal basis that matches Vietnam’sconditions and international practices.
Regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated(IUU) fishing, he said after the European Union gave recommendations, Vietnamhas actively taken measures for addressing this issue.
Aside from aligning legal regulationson sea and ocean protection and anti-IUU fishing with international rules, thecountry has increased communications to improve citizens’ awareness of andcompliance with regulations, created beneficial livelihoods for people toreduce sea exploitation, and installed monitoring devices on vessels to dealwith any actions of IUU fishing, the Government leader elaborated.
PM Chinh expressed his hope that theEU will cooperate with Vietnam, which has more than 3,000km of coastline, indeveloping sea-based economic activities, including sea farming, fishing,logistics, protecting and exploiting maritime resources, and ensuring securityand safety of navigation and overflight at sea.
He also called on his guest to helpstrengthen the Vietnam - EU cooperation in an increasingly substantive andeffective manner, including promoting EU countries’ ratification of the EU -Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
At the meeting, Sinkevičius, who wasin Vietnam to attend the Green Economy Forum & Exhibition (GEFE) 2022 heldby the European Chamber of Commerce, highly valued the country’s efforts andcommitments to implement green and anti-climate change policies, including theroadmap for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
Vietnam has workedactively and fruitfully with the EU in the IUU fishing combat, he noted, adding that this is a long-term issue and the country should keep striving to achieve desired results.
He also asked Vietnam to continuepaying attention to and coordinating with the EU in protecting and developing forests,and conserving forest and marine biodiversity, including preventing plasticwaste.
Agreeing with the commissioner’sopinions, PM Chinh appreciated the EU’s assistance with the IUU fishing combat,adding that Vietnam is working hard to recover forests, protect the ocean, andprevent plastic waste.
The country does not pursue pure economicgrowth at the expense of the environment, but takes the people as the centre,player, target, momentum, and resource of development, he stated.
He expressed his belief that theVietnam - EU relations, including in fighting climate change and conservingforest, marine, and agricultural biodiversity, will become increasingly substantiveand effective./.
VNA
