Raising awareness and responsibility for the marine environment

On the morning of May 12, the event "Europe Day in Vietnam" took place in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province with the theme: "Vietnam-EU: Joining hands for a clean environment".

Nâng cao nhận thức và có trách nhiệm với môi trường biển

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang speaks at the event 'Europe Day in Vietnam' 2024 in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province, on the morning of May 12. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

The Europe Day in Vietnam 2024 event is an initiative initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contribute to raising awareness among the business community and people about responsible behavior towards the environment, natural ecosystems in general and the marine environment in particular. At the same time, the event aims to contribute to promoting the comprehensive partnership and cooperation that is developing well between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) in general, as well as cooperation between Quang Ninh province and the EU Delegation, Embassies of EU member countries in Hanoi in particular.

Attending the event were Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province Cao Tuong Huy, leaders and representatives of departments, branches and sectors of Quang Ninh Province, representatives of a number of central ministries and branches; EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier, Ambassadors, Chargé d'Affaires and their spouses, and staff of the EU Delegation and Embassies of EU member countries in Vietnam.

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that the event will contribute to strongly spreading the message: "Join hands to preserve and protect a green, clean, and beautiful environment for future generations. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said that today's Vietnam - EU Day event with the theme: " Vietnam - EU: Joining hands for a clean environment" in Ha Long is an initiative initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contribute to raising awareness of the business community and people about responsible behavior towards the environment, natural ecosystems in general and the marine environment in particular. In addition, today's activities also contribute to preventing pollution and degradation of the marine environment, while promoting mutual understanding and cooperation between Quang Ninh province and the EU Delegation, EU embassies in Hanoi, making a positive contribution to the well-developed comprehensive partnership and cooperation relationship between Vietnam and the EU.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed that the event will also contribute to strongly spreading the message "Joining hands to preserve and protect a green, clean and beautiful environment for future generations". The Deputy Minister highly appreciated the EU and its member countries for actively supporting Vietnam in this field through development cooperation projects on climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, forest protection, waste treatment, etc.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that in the coming time, Vietnam hopes to continue receiving effective cooperation and support from the EU and its member countries in raising awareness and capacity to respond to climate change, protect the environment, and restore land, forest and ocean ecosystems...

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh Province Cao Tuong Huy assessed that the Vietnam - EU Day event held in Ha Long City is a very meaningful activity for Quang Ninh Province to promote the sense of responsibility in environmental protection, climate change response of the authorities at all levels and people of Quang Ninh Province, strengthen friendship and promote cooperation between Vietnam - EU in general and between Quang Ninh Province and the EU and its member countries in particular, especially in the fields of trade - investment, sustainable development.

Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee Cao Tuong Huy spoke at the event. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Mr. Cao Tuong Huy emphasized that Quang Ninh province has set the goal of becoming a typical example of the whole country in successfully implementing the sustainable development goals according to the United Nations 2030 Agenda on environmental criteria and climate change response and the National Green Growth Strategy. One of the province's priority directions is to strengthen international cooperation and integration in the field of environmental protection and climate change response, especially with EU partners. Quang Ninh province highly appreciates and wishes to continue receiving support from the EU and its member countries to implement the goals on environment, climate and sustainable development.

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier emphasized the importance of the event in Vietnam's overall efforts towards greener and more sustainable development. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Appreciating the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' initiative to organize the "Vietnam - EU Day" event in Ha Long, Ambassador Julien Guerier emphasized the importance of the event in Vietnam's overall efforts to develop greener and more sustainably.

The EU Ambassador highly appreciated Vietnam's commitments towards building a green, circular economy with the lofty goal of achieving zero net emissions by 2050; affirmed that the EU will always accompany and support Vietnam in implementing initiatives to respond to climate change and protect the environment, towards completing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and delegates actively collected trash at Bai Chay beach and picked up floating trash in Ha Long Bay. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

After the opening ceremony, nearly 200 delegates participated in activities to collect garbage along the coast of Bai Chay area and collect garbage in Ha Long Bay. The event attracted widespread attention from central and local news agencies and newspapers as well as the response of many people and tourists in Ha Long city.

On this occasion, delegates participated in an Asian-European culinary exchange, with demonstrations of the preparation of some traditional Vietnamese dishes. Following the success of the Vietnam-EU Day event in Ha Long on this occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue to coordinate with the EU Delegation to Vietnam to organize environmental events in a number of other localities across the country in the coming time.

Quang Ninh Province and Sun Group presented conical hats painted with Ha Long landscapes to delegates, introducing the rich potential of trade-investment, tourism and OCOP agricultural products of the locality.

Following the success of the Vietnam – EU Day event in Ha Long this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to continue coordinating with the EU Delegation to Vietnam to organize environmental events in a number of other localities across the country in the coming time.

Some photos of Vietnam - EU Day in Ha Long:

Delegates take souvenir photos. (Photo: Tuan Viet)

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang (center); Chairman of Quang Ninh Province Cao Tuong Huy (left) and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier (right) participate in cleaning the beach. (Photo: Tuan Viet)