VNA (Hanoi) - Many experts and i♋nsiders believe that Vietnam needs to focus on marine spatial planning and international cooperation for green growth in order to become a prosperous and strong maritime nation.

Balancing development and conservation

According to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan, Vietnam’s coastline of more than 3,260km offers great potential for the development of the marine economy, including seafood, oil and gas, tourism, and renewable energy sectors. Nhan emphasised the importance of a strategic approach to effectively manage the exploitation and use of resources, protect the environment, and conserve marine ecosystems. “This will contribute to the formation of a strong marine economy, create more livelihoods for people, ensure national defense and security, and maintain national sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction at sea,” he said. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has supported many Vietnamese agencies and departments in implementing activities related to sustainable development of the marine economy. UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi reiterated the importance of marine spatial planning and leveraging the potential of the marine economy and resources. Khalidi recommended that Vietnam learn from the experiences of other countries and development partners in the process of implementing the strategy, especially when many marine resources go beyond national borders. It is crucial to involve stakeholders, including the government, private sector, households, and individuals, and to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable coastal communities, she added.

Localities leveraging sea for maritime economic development

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Nghe An province Nguyen Van De highlighted the local focus on the development of the marine economy, with efforts directed towards preventing increasing pollution and degradation of the marine environment, coastal erosion, and coastal erosion. Nghe An aims to become a province with a strong marine economy in the North Central region by promoting the formation of marine culture, and the restoration and conservation of marine ecosystems, he said. Similarly, Nguyen Hong Linh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee of Ha Tinh province, underlined the local goal for the proper exploitation and effective use of marine and island resources towards rapid and sustainable development of the marine economy. Priority will be placed on marine tourism, maritime economy, marine mineral resources, aquaculture and fishing, and renewable energy. The province is also determined to control marine pollution, with efforts towards collecting and treating hazardous waste and daily-life solid waste in coastal urban areas, and planning and building environmentally-friendly economic zones and coastal urban areas. By 2050, the province strives to make effective use of marine and island resources based on the principles of green growth, marine biodiversity conservation, preservation of the marine environment, and the building of a society in harmony with the nature, according to the provincial official./.