Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has agreed to annually organise the “Week for Sea, Islands of Vietnam” from June 1-8.

Vietnam has over 3,200 km of coast, spanning 28 provinces and cities, and a total sea area of over 1 million sq.km, with around 3,000 islands. The sea and islands account for nearly one-fourth of the country’s GDP.

The event is a response to World Environment Day (June 5) and World Ocean Day (June 8).

The PM assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) to combine with related agencies and provinces to organise the event.

The vice chief of the Vietnam General Department of Sea and Islands, Nguyen Chu Hoi, said that as the PM has given his assent to the organisation of the “Week for Sea, Islands” as an annual event, the first task is setting up a national steering board for this event.

Hoi said the steering board will gather representatives of related ministries and agencies, such as the Defence Ministry, the naval forces, the search and rescue committees of 28 coastal provinces, the MoNRE and the General Department of Sea and Islands.

The general department asked the MoNRE to seek the government’s approval for the grant of “For the country’s blue sea” awards to organisations and individuals who have made contributions to the sustainable development of and the protection of Vietnam’s sovereignty over sea and islands at the annual “Week for Sea, Islands”.

The first “Week for Sea, Islands” took place from June 1-8 with various activities like a photo exhibition, coast-cleaning campaigns and others.

According to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Van Duc, this is an activity to raise people’s awareness of national sovereignty and the sustainable exploitation and use of sea resources.

Vietnam has over 3,200 km of coast, spanning 28 provinces and cities, and a total sea area of over 1 million sq.km, with around 3,000 islands. The sea and islands account for nearly one-fourth of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

VietNamNet/TT