Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhattended and addressed the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit on May 31 evening. Thefollowing is the full text of his remarks. 

“Your Excellency PresidentMoon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea,
Distinguished leaders,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me first express my deepappreciation to the Government of the Republic of Korea and President MoonJae-in for hosting this Summit under such a meaningful theme. On behalf of the Government of Viet Nam, and from my own heart, I would like toextend to all of you my warmest greetings and best wishes.

Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is now witnessingthe compounding effects at an unprecedented scale and scope arising from threemajor catastrophes, namely the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and naturalresources depletion, not to mention the ageing population in many countries.These challenges have left dire and multidimensional consequences, not only fortoday but also for our future generations.

However, the pandemic, andthose challenges and hardships have shown us more clearly the importance ofenvironmental protection and harmony between human and nature, and created amomentum to push our advancement and capability.

More than ever before, we mustbe of one mind and join hands to strike a balance between the urgent need foreconomic recovery and the demand for greener and more sustainable growth in thepost-COVID era. This is both an objective and a pressing requirement fordevelopment of all nations. Accordingly, I would like to make the followingproposals:

First, green recovery, greeneconomy and circular economy must be vigorously pursued at the national,regional and global levels, under the general framework of the United NationsSustainable Development Goals 2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.We need to alter the way of thinking, methodology, develop practical approachand shift from passive response to harmonious, compatible and effectivecombination of active response and transition towards a green economy. By sodoing, we will be able to avoid inversion causing shock effects.

Second, green transitionrequires a suitable roadmap. And, it is critical to take into account differentconditions and capabilities of countries. Developed countries should continueto take the lead in realizing their emission reduction commitments. They arealso expected to provide financial, technological and institutional assistanceto developing countries and severely-affected nations by climate change.

Third, it is imperative todevelop institutions to encourage the support and engagement of allstakeholders, particularly the business community and the people. It is indeedcrucial to promote public-private partnership (PPP) projects for green growthand establish new value chains and sectors through “greening” industrial andagricultural production, and services.

Fourth, it is essential toenhance adaptability for the regions worst hit by climate change, including theMekong Subregion and Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The severe challenges in thoseregions call for the close and responsible cooperation from the internationalcommunity, especially in the sustainable management and use of cross-borderwater resources. This will help ensure food and water resource security in theregion and the world.

Fifth, preventing and curbingthe COVID-19 pandemic successfully are most urgent for growth to bounce back.The efforts of each country are of paramount importance, but effectiveinternational cooperation is indispensable.
Such collaboration spans fromempathy for the emotional and material loss of others, sharing of technology,financial and medical resources, especially vaccines, facilitation ofinternational trade and investment, to cooperation in enabling transportationand movement of people and goods between countries, and avoiding disruption ofglobal supply chain.

Sixth, we need to uphold thespirit of unity, responsibility and mutual respect among countries in thecommon interest of humanities given the current situation. We must sustain afavourable international environment and continue to promote peace, stabilityand cooperation for development. This will benefit our economic recovery andinternational cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As for Vietnam, Vietnam isdetermined to pursue its “dual goal” despite numerous challenges. This meanscurbing the pandemic effectively while fostering fast and sustainablesocio-economic recovery and development. Vietnam is striving to ensureharmonious, rational and effective development, balance economic growth withcultural and social factors, environmental protection and climate adaptation.These objectives will be accomplished on the basis of the following focuses:(i) viewing growth model transformation, economic restructuring, green growth,market demand, newly-emerging industries and enhancement of productivity asdirections for development; (ii) the people are always placed at the center andconsidered to be the subject, the greatest resource and most important driveras well as the highest goal of development; (iii) Vietnam resolutely rejectsthe model of “growth first, clean-up later” and does not condone growth at allcosts without sustainability. And, Vietnam will certainly not pursue pureeconomic growth at the expense of social progress and equality.

I would like to take thisopportunity to express my heart-felt gratitude to all international partners,including the Republic of Korea, for the invaluable support and assistanceextended to Vietnam in pursuing its development goals.

Vietnam looks forward to thecontinued and effective assistance and cooperation from other countries,international organizations and businesses, especially in the implementation ofkey and high-quality infrastructure projects, green economy, digital economy,circular economy, climate change response and adaptation, and smart cities forVietnam’s sustainable development goals.

As a member state of keyinternational agreements on environment and climate change and as one of thefounding members of the P4G Summit, Vietnam stands ready to contributeactively and responsibly to the common efforts of the international communityso that we can fulfill the goals of green recovery and sustainable development.

In this spirit, I give my fullsupport for the Seoul Declaration proposed by the Government of the Republic ofKorea at this meeting.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I am convinced that,alongside the outcomes of the Leaders' Summit on Climate Change on April 22 andthe upcoming COP 26 in November, the P4G Summit today will go down in historyas a convergence of understanding, shared responsibilities and commitments toactions. Let us join hands to cement international cooperation so that togetherwe can overcome any challenges, respond effectively to climate change andrealize the goals of global green growth.

Thank you for your kindattention. May our Summit be a great success!