A meeting was held in central Quang Ngai province on June 8 to mark theWorld Oceans Day and the Vietnam Sea and Island Week and advocate thepreservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

This year’s Sea and Island Week takes the theme of “Blue Ocean, GreenPlanet”, which is also aimed at highlighting Vietnam’s historicalsovereignty over its seas and islands and the resolve to safeguard thissovereignty.

At the function, Deputy Minister ofNatural Resources and Environment Chu Pham Ngoc Hien said to developsustainably amidst complicated situation in the East Sea, Vietnam needsto determinedly protect its national sovereignty and interests in thewaters and oppose all violations of its sovereignty, sovereign right andjurisdiction at sea.

Marine economic activitiesshould also be fostered so as to soon transform Vietnam into a strongand wealthy sea-based country, he added, noting the importance ofinternational cooperation in this field.

ViceChairman of the Quang Ngai People’s Committee Le Quang Thich said 400years ago, the province was the base of the Hoang Sa flotilla set up bythe Nguyen Dynasty to exercise control over Truong Sa (Paracel) andHoang Sa (Spratly) archipelagos. The flotilla regularly sailed to theislands to erect sovereignty markers, exploit marine resources, buildtemples, and draw maps of the waters. Many historical and culturalrelics related to the flotilla are still preserved in Ly Son Island.

Quang Ngai will strive to protect coastal and marine environment anddevelop its maritime economy, helping safeguard the national sovereigntyand interests, he added.

The Vietnam Sea and IslandWeek in Quang Ngai will include a wide range of activities such asreleasing fish fry into the sea, a cycling parade, a beach cleanup, and aconference to promote investment in local marine economic activities.-VNA