Hanoi (VNA) – The first international consultation workshop onbuilding a national action plan on marine plastic debris management was jointlyheld in Hanoi on December 10 by the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment and the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam.

The event is part of the activities to mark 45th anniversary of theVietnam-Canada diplomatic relations (1973-2018).

In his opening remark, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran HongHa affirmed that protecting and restoring the marine eco-system have been anultimate goal in the marine economic development strategy for 2030 with avision to 2045.

Developing an action plan to control marine plastic debris is to realise PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s initiative to form a global cooperation mechanismfor reducing plastic wastes towards oceans free of plastic debris at theexpanded Group of Seven (G7) Summit held in Canada in June this year, he added.

Ha suggested Vietnam host the ASEAN ministerial meeting under the theme ofbuilding ASEAN community free of marine plastic debris.

Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Deborah Paul said that her country haslong-lasting collaboration with Vietnam in addressing environmental issues.

Some 8 million tonnes of plastic debris are discharged into the oceans eachyear, equal to the dumping of a truckload of plastic every minute, she said, addingthat plastic waste, including microplastics, is threatening the health of theoceans, rivers and the mankind.

Around 90 percent of plastic products have fossil fuels in their ingredient,and recycling one tonne of plastic helps reduce two tonnes of carbon dioxideemission into the atmosphere, she added.

Thanks to the programme initiated by the Canadian Embassy in Vietnam, 58embassies and international organisations have signed a Code of Conduct onCombating Plastic Pollution, and committed to reducing single-use plasticproduct, the diplomat stressed, expressing her delight as the initiative hasbeen welcomed by the Vietnamese Government.

At the event, experts from Canada, the Republic of Korea and the World Bankshared experience in how to get rid of plastic trash, highlightingresponsibility of the producers and sustainable financial mechanisms to developan advanced waste treatment. They also provided consultations to Vietnam in howto build the national action plan in accordance with the Vietnam’s sustainablesea-based economic development strategy adopted at the 8th meeting ofthe 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam inOctober, 2018.-VNA