Hanoi (VNA) – “We need sustainable development in harmony with nature to secure aclean living environment for present and future generations, instead ofunlimited exploitation and possession of resources, unrestrained consumptionand destruction of the environment.” This is one of the five “needs” defined byParty General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in his article titled “Sometheoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path towards socialism inVietnam.”

Sustainable development, with proper settlement of therelations between development and environment, is one of the true values ofsocialism and the goal that the Party, President Ho Chi Minh and the people ofVietnam have set and persistently pursued.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Standing Vice Chairman ofthe Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS) said that the path to socialism isclosely attached to the path for sustainable national development in politics, society,culture and environment. This is a right strategic choice  ensuringeconomic efficiency in the long term.

Throughout the process of national construction and development,especially since the start of the “Doi Moi” (Renewal) cause, thesystem of viewpoints of the Party and State regarding environmental protectionand sustainable development has shown coherence and consistency.

The viewpoints have been reviewed, supplemented and perfected through Party congresses to make them suitable to the nationaldevelopment situation in particular periods, while many resolutions and directiveson environmental protection have been issued.

Efforts to protectglobal common house

Protecting the environment and securing sustainable development is a matter ofinterest of not only Vietnam but also all countries around the globe. Ensuring thesustainability in environment is one of the eight Millennium Development Goalsthat the UN set in September 2000. In September 2015, the UN adopted the Agenda2030 with 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including the goal No. 13 onclimate actions.
 
After five years of implementing the Agenda 2030, Vietnam has ranked 49th among 166 countries in the sustainable development index, leaping fivepositions from 2019. Vietnam is likely to complete five out of 17 SDGs in 2030,including the goal No. 13.

UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Vietnam Terence D. Jones affirmedthat Vietnam is in the top group among the three groups of countries withfastest progress in implementing the SDGs.

Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnamcongratulated Vietnam for always being a pioneer in multilateral cooperationand a leading country in the people-core, inclusive growth and sustainabledevelopment policy in both regional and global levels. She complemented Vietnam’scommitments in increasing the ambition and engagement in global efforts againstclimate change.

For a green Vietnam

With a strategic vision, 60 years ago on November 28, 1959,President Ho Chi Minh wrote an article entitled “Tet trong cay” (Tree plantingfestival) for Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, which analysed the significantmeaning and practical benefits of tree planting and forest expansion for thecountry as well as each family and person.

Responding to President Ho Chi Minh’s call, the people ofVietnam conducted the first tree planting festival in the Lunar New YearFestival in 1960. Since then, the festival has become a sound tradition of thenation.

On April 1, 2021, the Prime Minister issued decision No. 524/QD-TTgapproving a project to plant 1 billion trees in the 2021-2025 period. By theend of 2021, 210 million trees had been planted, reaching 115 percent of theplan.

Socio-economic development in parallel with environmental protection and theeconomical and efficient use of energy has become a major trend and a vitalrequirement during the nation’s development path. Every Spring, allVietnamese people in every corner of the nation have actively responded to theTet trong cay, showing the responsibility and commitments of the present generationto the future generations, contributing to protecting the environment andbuilding an evergreen and sustainable country./.