PM addresses G7 Outreach Summit
Quebec (VNA) – Prime Minister
Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a speech at the Group of Seven (G7) Outreach Summit
in Quebec, Canada on June 9 (Canada time), affirming Vietnam’s commitment to
joining the international community in early translating the Paris Agreement into
reality.
The following is the full text of his speech.
SPEECH BY PRIME
MINISTER NGUYEN XUAN PHUC
At the G7 Outreach Meeting
(Quebec, Canada, 9/6/2018)
-----------
The
Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada,
Excellences, Heads of State
and Government
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
I would like to sincerely
thank The Right Honourable Prime
Minister Justin Trudeau for inviting Viet Nam to the expanded G7 meeting today. The theme Ocean set for this meeting is highly relevant. It is the habitat and development space of all
coastal nations and the entire planet.
I wish to share the following views:
First, climate change and sea level rise poses a serious threat to mankind’s survival.
Viet Nam has a long coastline and, according to the WB and OECD, is among the
countries worst affected by climate change, sea level rise and extreme weather.
Without effective responses, 20% of Ho Chi Minh City and 40% of the Mekong
delta of Viet Nam will be submerged by the end of this century. This area is Viet
Nam’s rice granary inhabited by tens of millions of people, and a food-exporting
center that provides food security for many countries.
Viet Nam highly
values the assistance for sustainable development of the Mekong River basin from
G7 countries, including Japan, the United States and the Friends of the Lower
Mekong (FLM). We look forward to the continued international support and
cooperation for sustainable management and use of water resources and enhanced
monitoring, climate change adaptation, as well as responding to the sea level
rise and spreading saline intrusion in the Mekong basin.
Viet Nam is
committed to joining the international community in early translating the Paris
Agreement into reality.
I would like to propose
that G7 countries consider establishing an Expanded Cooperation Forum of G7
and coastal countries on response to climate change, sea level rise and
protection of maritime environment and ecology in order to promote cooperation, share experience, transfer
technologies and muster resources. Viet Nam welcomes the G7’s topic on the
gender equality to facilitate women’s access to resources and basic services in
responding to climate change.
Second, 8
million tons of plastic waste are flushed into our oceans every year,
imperiling the maritime ecosystem and the oceans’ health. Viet Nam welcomes Canada's initiative on
preventing plastic litter on oceans, and stands ready to work with Canada and
other partners in its implementation. At
the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly to be held in Viet Nam in late
June 2018, we will put forward an initiative on developing a Regional Project
for a Plastic – Free Ocean, which has been welcomed by the GEF.
At this forum, I would like to propose that the G7 work on
establishing a Global Mechanism on Plastic Waste Reduction with joint actions
from all relevant countries for ever-blue oceans full of fish and shrimps and
free from plastic, serving as valuable assets for future generations.
Viet Nam, on its part, has adopted a development strategy to vigorously
promote maritime economy in parallel with protecting maritime environment and
ecosystem. We do not sacrifice the environment for economic growth. We
encourage clean energy, green growth and sustainable projects while combating strongly
polluting waste for blue and healthy seas.
Lastly, the preservation of blue oceans as the
living habitat of mankind is only possible with peace, stability and
cooperation prevailing at seas.
The East Sea in Southeast Asia provides the lifeline for 50% of the
world shipping traffic. It must be the sea of peace and safety. Viet Nam
welcomes the G7’s support for ASEAN's common position on the maintaining maritime
safety, security and freedom of navigation and overflight, non-militarization
and refraining from unilateral acts that would erode trust, dispute settlement
via peaceful means on the basis of respecting international law, the 1982
UNCLOS and the diplomatic and legal processes, full and effective observance of
the DOC and working towards an early substantive and effective COC.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I
would like to affirm that Viet Nam stands ready to advance cooperation in
realizing the theme of the G7 Meeting today on effective response to climate
change, sea level rise, development of clean, renewable energy, and protection
of maritime environment and ecosystem. Our common goal is for a blue ocean, a
green planet, peace, stability and common prosperity.
Thank you for your kind
attention.-VNA