Hanoi (VNA) – The VietnamCircular Economy Forum 2022 took place on June 28 with a focus on how totranslate the commitment on net zero emissions into action.

Addressing the hybrid event,Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha highlighted PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh’s message to the forum that calls for solidarity andjoint actions to reduce carbon emissions towards net zero like theway humankind has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government leader alsoemphasised cooperation among the countries, as well as between them and internationalorganisations so as to step up circular economy models, especially by sharingknowledge, boosting joint scientific researches, developing and transferring technology,Ha said.

Environmental and climateissues always enjoy the top priority in the agenda of the Vietnamese Party,National Assembly, and Government, along with national development programmesand plans, with the ultimate goal of protecting people’s health, ensuring the livingenvironment’s quality, and conserving biodiversity and the ecosystem.

Building a green, circular,and environmentally friendly economy has been included in the Party’sguidelines and the State’s policies and laws, the minister said, adding that thecountry will encounter certain difficulties in the transition to a circulareconomy, but with the engagement of the entire political system and supportfrom the whole society, the process will soon be accelerated in Vietnam.

At the forum, domestic andinternational partners shared some successful circular economy models in theregion and the world so as to identify suitable ones for Vietnam.

UNDP Resident Representativefor Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen said the circular economy is a developmentopportunity for the country in which investing in the governance system,developing regulations and policies to promote sustainable business practices,and gradually reducing polluting industries will help Vietnam secure greeneconomic recovery in the future.

By making collective efforts,sharing data, knowledge and experience in an open manner, and connectingrelevant parties, the mindset will be changed towards the transition to a circulareconomy that matches demand, history, and ambitions of Vietnamese people, shesaid.

Roongrote Rangsiyopash, Presidentand CEO of Thailand’s SCG Group, said a circular economy requires strongcooperation among companies, customers, supply chains, and stakeholders insupply chains.

Enterprises of Thailand areexerting efforts to work with organisations in Vietnam tocarry out many projects in this regard, he noted, expressing his belief that thiswill be an important part of the efforts to obtain greater sustainability targetsand net zero emissions in the future./.