QUẢNG NINH — Authorities in the northern coastal province of Quảng Ninh and experts from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Wednesday discussed the promotion of green growth of Hạ Long Bay.

The participants agreed that green growth was emerging as a global trend as part of the model of sustainable economic development, associated with the efficiency of natural resources and reducing the impact of environmental pollution.

As an important economic centre in the northern region, with its unique and rich geography, environment and natural resources, Quảng Ninh Province is also implementing the green growth policy aimed at sustainable economic development, improving the efficiency of resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing a low-carbon economy.

JICA expert Junko Masaki said with the support of the international community, especially the Government of Japan, Quảng Ninh Province and JICA signed a record of discussions in June 2015 to facilitate the project of Green Growth Promotion in Hạ Long Bay area. The project duration is from November 2015 to December 2019.

The concept of green growth is to achieve the goals of reducing pollution and economic growth, “breaking the dependence on the brown economy” as well as promote the sustainable growth of the tourism sector by using natural resources in the area of Hạ Long Bay. A “transition to a green economy” will be tested in the Hạ Long Bay area, Masaki said.

A series of activities have been rolled out to reach the targets, including promoting sustainable tourism in Hạ Long Bay and strengthening environmental management to reduce the pollution load on the bay.

The JICA representative also presented mid-term outcomes of the project as of April 2018. The project has introduced bio-toilets for tourist boats and a composting plant for recycling the organic waste and producing safe and clean food. This advanced technology has helped reduce the pollution load on Hạ Long Bay, according to the project management unit.

In the coming time, the project plans to publish a White Book on Hạ Long Bay’s green growth to facilitate accurate comprehension of green growth among the concerned stakeholders. — VNS