VietNamNet Bridge – A high level meeting on sea and island strategy to 2020 was held in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh on Saturday.

Meeting organisers, including the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education Commission and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, and Finance, hailed the public education efforts that had been made by Binh Dinh Province.

They also lauded the province’s effective investment in infrastructure for socio-economic development in coastal areas and on islands, specifically citing coastal road No 639, the Nhon Hoi economic zone and the Quy Nhon, Thi Nai and De Gi seaports.

Leaders from relevant agencies called on the province to systematically intensify its public awareness campaigns on the defence and development of the sea and island economy. Public education should focus on the outlook, objectives and strategic orientations of socio-economic development and the security of sea waters and islands, they said.

Campaigns should highlight the significant and important positions of the sea and islands in national construction and defence and affirm Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos with the naval force playing the flagship role.

Foreign affairs, scientific and technological development, strengthening of the fishing fleet and construction of coastal and island infrastructure facilities should go along with environmental protection and natural disaster control, the coastal province was advised.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News