Da Nang (VNA) – Vietnam is willing to accompany with the GlobalEnvironment Facility (GEF) in boosting sustainable development for the currentand future generations, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The PM made the statement in his speech delivered at the opening session of the6th GEF Assembly held in the central city of Da Nang on June 27.

The earth – the home of the mankind – is facing severe impacts fromenvironmental degradation and pollution and climate change. If no overallsolutions are given, countries, nations and people will have to suffer tremendousconsequences, he said.

This big challenge isalso a chance for the humankind to review development models and ways, therebymaking a change in their mindset and behaviours for an everlasting natural environment,he stated.

The Government leader notedthat the GEF has made important contributions to the settlement of challengesin environment and climate change in the world, especially in developingcountries, including Vietnam.

During its development, Vietnam has countered many problems in environmental degradationand climate change, he said.

Despite manydifficulties in resources, the Vietnamese Government has added environmentalprotection and climate change response into the country’s socio-economicdevelopment plans, while mobilising all resources and creativeness as well as efforts of the whole society forthe work.

“Vietnam will notexchange environment for economic development which affects the sustainabledevelopment,” he said before about 1,500 delegates from 183 GEF countries,along with leaders of UN agencies, regional development banks, socio-economicorganisations and businesses.

The country isfocusing on implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2030) andits commitments at COP-21 on climate change.

At the G7 OutreachSummit in Canada earlier this month, the PM hailed the important role andeffective cooperation of the GEF, while pledging to work with the GEF inimplementing the regional project for a plastic waste-free ocean.

On the occasion, thePM thanked the GEF and its members and development partners, expressing hishope to continue receiving consultations, cooperation and assistance from theGEF.

He held that Vietnamis a favourable placefor the GEF to launch its new projects in environmental protection, adding thatVietnam is ready to engage in global, inter-regional and inter-sectoralprojects in order to learn experience in dealing with global environmentalproblems such as ocean plastic waste and preserving biodiversity.

PM Phuc raised anumber of issues for discussion at the event, including the definition of majorenvironmental challenges to the mankind, thus seeking prioritised policies forthe comprehensive and effective settlement of these challenges.

The PM suggested thatit is necessary to evaluate the efficiency of current supporting andcoordinating mechanisms, so as to make breakthrough improvements, especially inmobilising and distributing resources to assist member countries, particularlythose facing huge problems due to environmental degradation, pollution andclimate change.

Participants shouldpropose projects to cope with the root of environmental degradation, pollutionand climate change as well as urgent matters related to ocean plastic waste.

The sixth Assembly ofthe GEF is one of the most important events in environment hosted by Vietnam in2018.

Along with a plenarysession, the event also includes a number of discussions on issues related tofood, land use and restoration, sustainable cities, cooperation in implementingthe 2030 agenda, plastic waste released to the ocean, and reform in greenpower.

Vietnam became a memberof the GEF in 1994. The GEF was established on the eve of 1992 in Rio EarthSummit to help tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental problems.

So far, it hasprovided over 17.9 billion USD in grants and mobilised an additional 93.2billion in co-financing for more than 4,500 projects in 170 countries.

Today, GEF is aninternational partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civilsociety organisations and the private sector that addresses globalenvironmental issues.-VNA