Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, and leaders of ministries, departments and sectors as well as representatives of Quang Binh and other provinces in the North Central Coast region, attended the event.

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Vice State President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (first from right) takes part in the festival. (Photo: nhandan.com.vn)

Addressing the event, Thinh recalled the tree-planting campaign launched by President Ho Chi Minh in the Spring of 1960, adding that generations of Vietnamese have responded to his call for environmental protection.

She underscored that climate change and extreme weather patterns have had negative impacts on many areas nationwide. Last year, central provinces, including Quang Binh, suffered substantial losses from storms and floods. Therefore, tree planting and afforestation hold strategic significance for national sustainable development. Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also called for joint efforts in the campaign, particularly the initiative of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc about planting a billion trees over the next five years.

According to a representative from the MARD, during the 2016-2020 period, about 227,000 ha of concentrated forests and 67 million individual trees were planted each year. Meanwhile, the rate of forest coverage reached 42 percent last year and the value of timber exports and wooden products came to 13.17 billion USD, up by 16.4 percent year-on-year. In the 2021-2025 period, forest coverage is expected to remain unchanged, with an expected export revenue of 20 billion USD.

In the framework of the program, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh offered incense to pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh and martyrs in Quang Binh province.  She also visited a center for disabled children in Dong Hoi city.

Translated by Khanh Ngan