The Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated October 22, 2018 of the 8^th plenum of the Party Central Committee (12^th tenure) has determined that:

1. To strengthen the leadership of the Party, step up propaganda work, raise awareness about sustainable development of the sea, create social consensus. Raise awareness and strengthen the leadership of Party committees, organisations and authorities at all levels in implementing, inspecting and supervising the implementation of guidelines and solutions on the sustainable development of marine economy, etc.

2. To perfect institutions, policies, strategies, master plans and plans on the sustainable development of marine economy. Review and perfect the system of policies and laws on the sea towards sustainable development, ensuring feasibility, synchronicity, consistency, and conformity with international laws to which Vietnam has signed or acceded to. Create a favourable legal corridor to attract external and domestic investments in infrastructure, science, technology, human resources and transfer of marine knowledge.

3. To develop marine science and technology, and accelerate marine basic survey. Promote innovation, creativity and application of advanced scientific and technological achievements; to step up research and establish scientific arguments for planning and perfecting the policies and laws on sustainable development of the marine economy. Give priorities on basic investigation, scientific and technological research, and training of marine human resources; to form centres for research and apply of marine biotechnology, exploiting the deep seabed, space technology in marine monitoring with regional advanced levels, etc.

4. To promote education, training and development of marine human resources, thereby, improving awareness, knowledge, and understanding about the sea and ocean, survival skills, adaptation to climate change, sea level rise, prevention and avoidance of natural disasters for students at all levels. Develop high-quality marine human resources; implement favourable policies for attracting talents, gradually form a contingent of international-standard managers, scientists, and experts with deep expertise in the sea and ocean, etc.

5. To strengthen capability for national defence, security and law enforcement at sea. Perfect the structure of defence, security and other law enforcement forces at sea. Invest in modern equipment, focus on personnel training, improve law enforcement efficiency and strengthen the synergistic and combat capabilities of forces participating in the protection of sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction, and the legitimate interests of the country, etc.

6. To actively strengthen and expand foreign relations and international cooperation on sea. Consistently implement the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations; proactively improve the efficiency of international integration; resolutely and persistently fight to protect the country's sovereignty and legitimate interests at sea, and at the same time actively resolve and handle disputes and disagreements in the East Sea by means of peaceful law on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; preserve the peaceful and stable environment and cooperation for development, etc.

7. To mobilise resources, encourage all economic sectors to invest in sustainable marine development, build strong marine economic groups. To step up the attraction of resources from all economic sectors, especially the private and foreign-invested economic sectors. Actively attract large investors with source technology, advanced management level from developed countries, etc.

PHAM BINH