On April 3rd, 2023, the Government issued Resolution No. 48/NQ-CP on "Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of resources, environmental protection of seas and islands until 2030, vision to 2050”. This is the concretisation of Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22nd, 2018 of the Party Central Committee (12th tenure) on "Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam's marine economy until 2030 , with a vision to 2045", aiming to develop the marine economy on the basis of green growth, preserving biodiversity and marine ecosystems; ensuring harmony between economic and natural ecosystems, between conservation and development, between the interests of coastal and landlocked localities,... creating motivation for the country's economic development.

To turn that policy into reality, Resolution No. 48/NQ-CP identifies general and specific goals by the year of 2030, notably: in coastal urban areas, 100% of hazardous waste and household solid waste are collected and treated to meet environmental standards; increase the area of marine protected areas, protected marine and coastal areas to at least 06% of the natural area of the national sea; at least 50% of Vietnam's sea area is subject to a basic survey of marine resources and environment at a map scale of 1:500,000. Regarding the vision to 2050, the Resolution determines to make Vietnam a strong maritime country on the foundation of green growth, preserved marine biodiversity, healthy marine and island environment, and environmentally friendly society.

To that end, the Resolution points out strategic orientations and tasks until 2030, including: sustainable exploitation and use of resources; protect the marine and island environment; conserve biodiversity and marine and island resources; respond to climate change and rising sea levels; basic investigation of seas and islands; science, technology and international cooperation. In addition, the Resolution identifies a number of key solutions, which focus on perfecting the legal system on resource management and environmental protection of seas and islands; promote scientific and technological development; proactively strengthen and expand international cooperation on management and research of marine and island resources and environment; promote education, training and development of marine human resources; build a sustainable financial mechanism to serve the sustainable exploitation and use of marine and island resources; build an information system and database of national marine and island resources and environment; promote propaganda and raise awareness about the sea, sustainable exploitation and use of resources and protection of the sea and island environment.

The Government's issuance of the Resolution on "Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of resources and protection of the seas and islands environment until 2030, with a vision to 2050" is an important event, aiming to specifically concretise the implementation of the Party's policies on sustainable development of the marine economy; create favourable legal mechanisms and institutions to exploit and use marine resources effectively and equitably on the basis of a harmonious combination of socio-economic benefits with environmental protection, ensuring green marine economic development, making our country a strong one with wealth from the sea. At the same time, it contributes to strengthening national defence and security on coastal lands, islands, archipelagos, seas and airspace under the sovereignty, sovereign rights and national jurisdiction of Vietnam.

CAO VUONG