HCM City enhances int’l cooperation to mitigate plastic waste
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong hosted a local reception on March 2 for Vice President of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) Nicholas Fredrick Kolesch and Country Director of the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) Peter Loach.
HCM City (VNA) – Vice Chairman of the HoChi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong hosted a local reception onMarch 2 for Vice President of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) NicholasFredrick Kolesch and Country Director of the Netherlands Development Organisation(SNV) Peter Loach.
Cuong hailed the SNVfor actively initiating the project “Clean cities for a green Vietnam” withfinancial support from AEPW. He wished that AEPW and SNV would work closelytogether to address plastic waste and pollution in the city as well as assistthe city’s plastic industry in its transition to asustainable circular economic model.
He suggested thatthey help the city carry out the National Action Plan for Management of MarinePlastic Waste till 2030 and incorporate the collection and treatment of plasticwaste on Can Gio beach into the "Cleancities for a green Vietnam” project.
The host proposed the AEPWand SNV continue strengthening cooperation with the city in supporting smalland medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in waste recycling, upgrading wastemanagement infrastructure and raising public awareness of waste classification.
Kolesch, for his part,informed the host about his working session with the Vietnamese Ministry ofNatural Resources and Environment.
As a global non-profitorganisation with 77 member entities, AEPWis eager to help countries and localities address challenges related to plasticwaste based on techniques and experience gained from other projects. The aim is to make adifference in waste management systems and turn waste into a source of nationaleconomic benefits.
Loach said the "Clean cities for a green Vietnam" project, divided intomany stages, aims to reduce plastic waste pollution by 15-20% in Ha♏noi and HoChi Minh City from 2023 to 2026./.
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Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
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This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
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Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
A national plan sets clear goals to be achieved by 2030, including the completion of climate-resilient infrastructure and improved capacity for disaster prevention and adaptation.
At the reception (Photo: VNA) 
