To effectively encourage the potential of the sea in the 21^st century, the 8^th Plenum of the 12^th Party Central Committee issued the Resolution 36/NQ-TW on the Strategy for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy until 2030 with a vision until 2045, stressing that Vietnam must become a strong and rich country based on the sea, which develops sustainably, prosperously, securely and safely in the 21^st century. To that end, the Resolution has set out the Party’s guidelines on Strategy for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy until 2030 with a vision until 2045 as follows.

The 8th Plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee (photo: VNA)

1. The role and special importance of the sea towards the cause of Homeland construction and defence must be heightened by the entire Party, Military and people. Accordingly, the sea is a component of the national sovereignty, a living space, an international gateway closely associated with the national construction and defence. Vietnam must become a strong and rich country based on the sea, which develops sustainably, prosperously, securely and safely. Vietnam will sustainably develop its maritime economy together with ensuring national defence and security, firmly maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, enhancing external relations and international cooperation on the sea, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment conducive to development. The sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy is the responsibility of the whole political system and the rights and duties of every Vietnamese organization, enterprise and people.

2. The country will sustainably develop its marine economy on the basis of green growth, conservation of biodiversity and marine ecosystems; ensuring harmony between economic and natural ecosystems, between conservation and development, and between the interests of coastal and landlocked localities. It will need to promote the linkage and restructuring of sectors and fields for higher productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness; and bringing into play the potential and advantages of the sea, creating a momentum for national economic development.

3. The country will preserve and promote sea-related tradition and cultural identity while building a sea-friendly society and ensuring the people’s rights to take part in and their enjoyment from and responsibility for the sustainable marine economy development on the basis of equality in accordance with the Constitution and law.

4. The country will enhance integrated and unified management of marine resources, protect the marine environment, conserve biodiversity and natural marine ecosystems, and proactively respond to climate change and sea level rise. It will invest more in the conservation and development of biodiversity values, restoration of marine ecosystems and protection of the integrity of the ecosystems from the shore to the sea. The protection of the marine environment will be combined with the prevention and preclusion of environmental pollution and incidents while regional and global cooperation on the sea will be strengthened.

5. The country will develop modern science and technology and high-quality human resources as a breakthrough. More state budget funds will be allocated for investment in marine research and baseline survey and human resources training, in addition to mobilizing resources inside and outside the country. It will promote international integration and cooperation on the sea, with priority given to attracting the world’s top strategic investors with the source technologies and advanced management level on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, and respect for Vietnam’s national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

To conclude, the above-mentioned things are our Party’s basic, comprehensive, objective, scientific guidelines to quickly turn Vietnam into a strong and rich country based on the sea, which develops sustainably, prosperously, securely and safely, greatly contributing to boosting the country’s socio-economic development and protecting the Homeland’s sacred sea and island sovereignty.

Pham Ba Binh