Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Brussels (VNA) – A Vietnamesedelegation led by Ambassador Vuong Thua Phong, head of the Vietnamese mission tothe EU, took part in the 4th International Our Ocean 2017 Conferencein Malta on October 5-6.
This year’s event brought together delegates from more than 100 countries andinternational organisations, including over 40 high-ranking leaders.
The conference discussed measures to prevent marine pollution, expand protectedsea areas, consolidate marine security, promote blue economy and sustainablefishing, and strengthen efforts to deal with climate change in line with theParis Agreement on climate change and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by2030.
Participants highlighted the importance of oceans and raised concerns over themarine environment pollution, degradation of marine ecology and coastal areas,and exhaustion of marine resources as well as their serious impacts on thehuman lives and sustainable development.
At the event, the EU announced an aid package worth 550 million EUR (642million USD) for 36 programmes for safer and cleaner maritime zones.
The US also pledged to provide 9.1 billion USD for waste recycling projects inIndonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam within four years.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese delegation had meetings withleaders of the EU and other delegations, briefing them on the country’ssustainable development policies as well as its efforts to step upinternational cooperation in implementing EU recommendations on illegal fishingprevention, and enhancing the conservation and promotion of sea and oceanresources, contributing to ensuring maritime safety and freedom in the EastSea.
The first International Our Ocean Conference was held in the US in 2014 under theinitiative of then US Secretary of State John Kerry. The fifth event will takeplace in Indonesia in 2018.-VNA
VNA
