Vietnam and Czech Republic share experience in natural resources and environment management

Welcoming the delegation to work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Deputy Minister expressed his appreciation for the relationship between the two countries that has lasted for 73 years. Currently, the two countries are promoting bilateral cooperation in many fields, including: political diplomacy, trade and economic relations, culture, education, people's diplomacy, and natural resources and environment.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh (right) welcomed the Czech Senate delegation to visit and work with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In the field of natural resources and environment, in recent times, the Czech Republic has been one of the important partners in Eastern Europe of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant ministries and sectors of the Czech Republic have had many cooperative activities within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation with the Czech Ministry of Environment in the field of environmental protection in 2012.

Specifically: In 2019, the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of geology and minerals with the Department of Geology, Ministry of Environment, Czech Republic. Also in 2019, the two Ministries continued to sign the Action Plan of the Memorandum of Understanding for the period 2020 - 2025. In 2020, within the framework of this Action Plan, the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund cooperated with MEVOS Company to research and develop the Project "Sustainable waste management on Phu Quoc Island".

“It can be said that these are important milestones in the cooperation in the field of natural resources and environment between the two countries” – Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh acknowledged and hoped that the two sides would strengthen cooperation in environmental protection and natural resource management.

Mr. Zbynek Linhart talks with Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh

Speaking with Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh, Mr. Zbynek Linhart said that the delegation's visit this time aims to learn from Vietnam's management experience in the following issues: waste treatment, combating plastic waste pollution and developing clean energy. These are the problems that the Czech Republic is facing, as the amount of waste is increasing and 50% of energy is generated from coal, while the world's trend is to switch to renewable, environmentally friendly energy.

Sharing with Mr. Zbynek Linhart, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh informed that regarding waste management, including plastic waste, Vietnam has the 2020 Environmental Protection Law with many new breakthroughs, including regulations learned from developed countries, such as: waste treatment costs calculated by volume or regulations on waste classification at source. Vietnam also launched the anti-plastic waste movement 5 years ago, and so far, it has spread to all levels, sectors, organizations and individuals. Thanks to that, the technology to produce environmentally friendly materials has had the opportunity to develop. The Environmental Protection Law also sets out policies on recycling and reusing waste, encouraging new technologies for treatment such as incineration to recover energy.

Regarding energy transition in Vietnam, the transition to renewable energy such as wind power and solar power is taking place strongly. The Government has issued Power Plan 8, with the policy of limiting and gradually reducing thermal power and increasing the proportion of renewable energy. To transition energy, Vietnam needs a huge investment source. Vietnam and the Group of International Partners have adopted and are implementing the Political Declaration on the establishment of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). Through JETP, Vietnam hopes to create a framework for cooperation with international partners, helping Vietnam improve policies, transfer technology, and provide financial support for a just energy transition.

Delegates attending the reception and working session

Acknowledging the contents shared by the Deputy Minister, Mr. Zbynek Linhart hoped that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam and relevant agencies of the Czech Republic will expand more areas of cooperation, strengthen and consolidate the relationship in the field of Natural Resources and Environment. Mr. Zbynek Linhart believes that the cooperative relationship between the two countries will continue to develop and bring about more specific and better results./.

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