QUEBEC — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has proposed establishing an expanded co-operation forum between the Group of Seven (G7) and coastal nations in combating climate change and sea level rise, and protecting marine ecology. 

The forum aims to establish collaboration, share experience, transfer technologies and mobilise resources for climate change adaptation and response, the Vietnamese leader explained.

Phúc raised the initiative while addressing the G7 Outreach Summit in the Charlevoix region, Canada’s Quebec state, on Saturday at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau. 

In his speech, the PM conveyed a message of the significance of enhanced international co-operation in combating climate change. 

Việt Nam supports host Canada in concentrating the G7 Outreach Summit’s agenda on seas and oceans, and applauds the spirit of resolve and co-operation displayed by the G7 countries in seeking solutions to promote the protection of marine ecology, he said. 

The leader stressed that Việt Nam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change and sea level rise as well as the adverse impacts of unsustainable exploitation and use of Mekong River water resources. 

He affirmed Việt Nam’s commitments to seriously cutting emissions in conformity with the Paris COP21 Agreement on climate change, and called on the G7 countries and the international community to continue their assistance and co-operation with Việt Nam to help the country improve its capacity for climate change monitoring and adaptation, fight sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, and sustainably manage and use water resources of the lower Mekong River basin. 

At the event, PM Phúc affirmed that strongly developing the sea-based economy in tandem with protecting the environment and the marine ecosystem is a development direction and strategy of Việt Nam. The country’s viewpoint is to not sacrifice the environment for economic growth, encouraging clean and renewable energy, green growth and sustainable development, and determinedly preventing waste release that pollutes the marine environment. 

He welcomed Canada’s initiative to prevent disposing of plastic waste into oceans, stressing that Việt Nam is ready to cooperate with Canada and countries around the world to carry out this initiative. 

The Vietnamese leader also proposed the G7 countries promote the formation of a global co-operation mechanism for reducing plastic garbage towards oceans free of plastic waste. He noted that the sixth Global Environment Fund (GEF) Assembly will be held in Việt Nam later this month. Việt Nam has proposed a regional project for an ocean free of plastic waste that is applauded by the GEF. 

In his speech, Phúc emphasised that the goal of green oceans can only be achieved when peace, stability and co-operation are maintained across oceans.

He applauded the G7 nations’ support for ASEAN’s common stance on the East Sea (South China Sea) issue. Accordingly, it is necessary to enhance co-operation to ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, as well as to peacefully resolve disputes on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, while respecting diplomatic and legal processes to consolidate regional and global peace, stability and co-operation. 

The PM’s speech was welcomed by host Canada and many participating countries, which also voiced their support for the initiatives suggested by Việt Nam and for ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issue. 

The G7 Outreach Summit looked into pollution and unsustainable exploitation of marine resources which remain global challenges threatening the sustainable development of the entire planet, especially coastal nations. 

The delegates called for stronger global and regional co-operation in protecting the marine economy. Most of the participating leaders affirmed their commitments to implementing the Paris Agreement. 

They exchanged initiatives, visions and measures to enhance the capacity for climate change response and adaptation, promote mechanisms dealing with maritime issues on the basis of international law, prevent coastal erosion and sea level rise, form co-operation mechanisms and international standards of fighting plastic waste and illegal fishing, enhance the management and protection of the marine ecology, and ensure the sustainable development of sea-based economic sectors. 

They also voiced their support for Canada’s initiative of reinforcing international co-operation in preventing and handling plastic waste discharged into oceans, and promoting gender equality in climate change response. 

This is the second time Việt Nam has taken part in a G7 Outreach Summit, the first being in Japan in 2016.

PM Phúc also had separate bilateral meetings with leaders of several G7 nations as well as guest countries attending the G7 Outreach Summit.

He held talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, the Norwegian PM Erna Solberg, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina and the newly appointed Italian PM Giuseppe Conte. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Argentinian President Mauricio Macri.

The Vietnamese leader had separate meetings with the World Bank’s Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde. — VNS