To realize the Strategy for Vietnam’s sustainable marine economy development towards 2030 with a vision towards 2045, the Resolution 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22^nd 2018, by the 12^th Party Central Committee set out several guidelines and breakthroughs that need to be achieved.

1. Major guidelines. First, develop marine and coastal economy. By 2030, Vietnam will achieve the breakthroughs in developing its marine economic sectors in the order of priority as follows: (1) Tourism and marine services; (2) Maritime economy; (3) Exploitation of oil and gas and other marine mineral resources; (4) Aquaculture and fishing; (5) Coastal industry; (6) Renewable energy and new marine economic sectors. The country will synchronously develop and gradually form coastal economic zones, industrial parks and ecological urban centers. It will concentrate on building and replicating models of coastal economic zones and eco-industrial parks in association with the formation and development of strong marine economic centers. Second, develop marine areas based on the advantages of natural conditions, ensuring harmony between conservation and development. Focuses will be placed on planning marine space into protection-reserve areas, buffer areas and areas for maritime and coastal development (North Central, South Central, Southeast, and Southwest) to ensure regional coherence between maritime and inland localities. Third, environmental protection and conservation and sustainable development of marine biodiversity; proactively respond to climate change, sea level rise and disaster prevention. Importance will be attached to preventing the occurrence of incidents causing environmental pollution, minimize and effectively handle pollution sources; upgrading the quality of the marine environment; improving the capacity of forecasting, warning, proactive prevention, avoidance and mitigation of natural disasters, adaptation to climate change, sea level rise. Fourth, improve coastal inhabitants’ living standards and build maritime culture and a society closely attached and friendly to the sea. The country will ensure security and safety for coastal and island inhabitants and sea workers and focus on developing cultural institutions for sea and coastal communities, building a society with cultural awareness, lifestyles and behaviors that are attached and friendly to the sea, and guaranteeing fair and equal rights to access, participate in, benefit from and responsibility of the people to the sea. Fifth, ensure national defense, security, foreign relations and international cooperation. Emphasis will be placed on improving the forces’ capacity to protect and enforce the law at sea; maintaining independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests at sea; strengthening and expanding foreign relations and international cooperation, actively participating and positively contributing to the common efforts of the international community in the conservation and sustainable use of the sea and the ocean

2. A number of breakthroughs. The strategy set out 3 breakthroughs. (1) Improve the institution for sustainable development of marine economy, giving priority to improving the legal framework, innovation and development of green growth models, environmental protection, improvement of productivity, quality and international competitiveness of marine economic sectors, sea and coastal areas; complete the integrated and unified marine management mechanism. Review, adjust, supplement and formulate new plans related to the sea, ensuring the coherence and synchronization among sectors and localities. (2) Develop science and technology, train for high-quality marine human resources, promote innovation, creativity, utilization of scientific and technological achievements, new technologies, and lure leading experts, scientists and high-quality human resources. (3) Develop multi-purpose infrastructure synchronously; develop transport network connecting major economic centers of the country, industrial zones, urban areas and sea areas with seaports based on economic and natural ecosystems;  develop strategic linkages from North to South and from East to West, between domestic and international regions.

To conclude, sectors and localities, particularly coastal ones should thoroughly grasp those major guidelines and breakthroughs as the basis for their execution of the Strategy, thereby making contributions to fulfilling the country’s goals of socio-economic development in both medium term and long term.

Nguyen Duc Phu