Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia, Deputy Director of the GDP, presided over the seminar with the participation of a number of generals, representatives of civilian and military organs and units, localities, and troops from the Naval, Border Guard, Coast Guard, and Fisheries Resources Surveillance forces.
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Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Trong Nghia speaking at the seminar |
Addressing the seminar, General Nghia emphasized the special important role of the seas and islands in the socio-economic development and national defense-security safeguarding strategy.
Nghia said that the national seas and islands are not only components of the sacred sovereignty and sovereignty right of the country, but also the living and development space of generations of the Vietnamese people. In the old days, Vietnamese people pursued good maritime policies: Exploiting huge potential of the sea for national development and human livelihoods while building a people’s heart front and people’s warfare posture to create more power in firmly protecting national territorial sovereignty.
Acknowledging the important role of the seas and islands in national development, the Party and the State have drafted a number of policies to manage, protect and exploit sea-related potential.
However, climate change and extreme weather phenomena as well as pressures of socio-economic development activities have tremendously impacted the environment of the seas and islands of Vietnam. Fully aware of the impacts of environmental pollution, climate change, sea-level rise and other sea environmental incidents on the national seas, the Party and State have issued policies to reasonably, effectively and sustainably manage and exploit sea resources at a reasonable manner to minimize negative impacts on the maritime environment and bio-diversification, part of the country’s efforts to develop a green and environment-friendly economy.
General Nghia also highlighted that the military is a key force in defending national sovereignty over the seas and islands. Over the past years, the whole military has actively embraced and forecast situational developments at seas and on islands, given recommendations to the Party and State to deal with maritime issues in a timely and effective manner, thus contributing to strongly protecting the national independence, sovereignty, unification, and territorial integrity.
During the seminar which was organized in response to the World Environment Day (June 5), delegates’ speeches focused on making clear the important role of the seas, islands, sea resources and maritime environment, and discussing issues related to climate change, sea-level rise, sea environmental incidents and their impacts on the sustainable development of the country’s sea economy. They also discussed measures to ensure the national defense-security.
Delegates pointed out the close relations between firmly defending the national sovereignty and security at sea and protecting sea resources, environment and responding to sea environmental incidents.
Delegates appraised the real maritime situation; analyzed advantages and shortcomings; introduced experience and lessons drawn by military units stationed at sea and coastal localities; proposed solutions to boost information dissemination and education about maritime environmental protection to raise the public’s awareness of defending the national maritime sovereignty while protecting marine resources and environment and responding to climate change and sea environmental incidents.
Translated by Mai Huong