Vietnam-WEF partnership helps reduce plastic waste, develop circular economy
Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha on February 23 had a working session with Joo-Ok Lee, Head of the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Regional Agenda – Asia Pacific, to discuss cooperation in coping with plastic waste and developing the circular economy.
Lee thanked the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) for backing activities of the Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) implemented by the WEF in recent
times, and expressed his hope to continue receiving its support in the coming time. He
also shared information related to plans of the NPAP in the future.
The official revealed that, in 2022, the WEF will
host major conferences which are expected to attract the participation of political
leaders, entrepreneurs and academic researchers around the world, to outline agendas
at the regional and global levels. He
hoped that Vietnam would attend and share cooperation models and initiatives on
reducing plastic waste, and developing the circular economy.
For
his part, Ha spoke highly of the WEF’s support for the
MoNRE in recent times, especially in the fight against plastic waste and
developing the circular economy through various activities of the NPAP.
Launched in December 2020, the NPAP has greatly
contributed to communication activities on plastic waste in the Southeast Asian
nation, helping raise public awareness of the use of plastic bags and other single-use plastic products.
The programme has also called for the involvement of many
international organisations and businesses in supporting the implementation of
projects and plans of the MoNRE in managing and reducing plastic waste.
It has also provided technical experts to help make adjustments
and supplements to regulations on circular economy development in a decree detailing a number of articles
of the Law on Environmental Protection, and build a national action plan on circular
economy development.
Ha expressed his hope that the partnership programme
will continue to promote connection among public, private, and societal stakeholders in
a common approach in order to tackle plastic waste and plastic pollution, and
help Vietnam’s plastic industry with transition to a sustainable circular economy
model.
He suggested
the WEF further foster cooperation with
Vietnam to address plastic waste, including marine plastic waste, by supporting the country to implement its approved national action plan.
The two sides
should also continue their coordination in investigating and
assessing arising issues in this regard, and in collecting, recycling and treating plastic
waste; organise policy dialogues and conferences to map out relevant strategies
and plans; and promote investment and mobilise resources to support the
effective implementation of plastic waste management and treatment, and
microplastic management in producing commodities, and accelerate circular economy development
in Vietnam, he said./.