Activities aim to restore fisheries resources in the Gulf of Tonkin

- Dear Mr. Yu Kangzhen, Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China.

- Dear Mr. Li Bin, Vice President of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

- Dear Mr. Nong Duc Lai, Representative of the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in China.

Dear all Delegates,

Today, at the headquarter of the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, with the presence of representative leaders of units under the Ministry, including the Directorate of Fisheries and units under the Directorate of Fisheries: Directorate Office, Department of Conservation and Development of fisheries resources, Department of Science - Technology and International Cooperation, Department of Fisheries Service, Department of Legal Inspection, Department of Fisheries Investigation, Seafood Research Institute, I would like to give my most respectful greetings to the Leaders of the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the People's Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China, and all the esteemed delegates attending the ceremony today.   

First and foremost, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, allow me to express my gratitude to the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the People’s Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China for organizing the 4th Fisheries resources regeneration stocking Ceremony in the Gulf of Tonkin and for having invited Vietnam to collaborate in organizing the activity and make a speech at the ceremony. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, we were unable to attend the ceremony in person, but thanks to the innovative methods of China, I have the opportunity and honor to represent the leaders of the Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to speak at the solemn ceremony today.

Distinguished Delegates,

On the basis of the respectable traditional friendly relationship, relevant agencies of the two countries had, have been and will continue to cooperate and support each other in many fields, especially in the agricultural and seafood sector. The Agreement on Fishery Cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin was signed between the two governments in 2000 and came into effect on June 30th, 2004, and since then, the cooperation in the Gulf of Tonkin between the two sides has had positive qualitative changes, creating favorable conditions for the two sides to promote cooperation in order to develop sustainable fisheries resources, maintain stability in the Gulf of Tonkin, and develop bilateral relations between Vietnam and China, contribute to enhancing peace and stability in the region and in the world.

Based on the Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation in seed stocking for regeneration and protection of fisheries resources in the Gulf of Tonkin between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam signed under the witness of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, from 2017 up to now, both parties have successfully organized the fisheries resources regeneration stocking activity three times. Today, both parties will implement a very meaningful act, which is the stocking to regenerate fisheries resources. This activity aims to restore fisheries resources in the Gulf of Tonkin, contributing to raising fisherman’s income and the awareness of protecting fisheries resources, sustainably developing the fisheries economy.

On Vietnam’s part, the protection and development of fisheries resources have attracted the Party and the State, followed by the investment of funds for the research and development of resources, the formation of legal systems, the protection apparatus and the development of fisheries resources from the central to local levels. Vietnam has issued the List of 186 species of endangered, precious and rare aquatic species together with appropriate management and protection regimes; has established 12 marine protected areas, 47 areas banned from fishing for a definite period to conserve and protect fisheries resources and habitats of aquatic species.

Every year, the stocking activity for the regeneration of fisheries resources is implemented synchronously and concentratedly by provinces and cities in Vietnam on April 1st (the Traditional Day of Vietnam Fisheries Industry), making an important contribution to the restoration of the fisheries resources that suffered exhaustion from exploitation. During the time period from 2016 to 2020, Vietnam has stocked more than 400 million aquatic seeds to natural waters, including many endangered, precious and rare aquatic species.

Particularly, since 2017, in addition to the activities of specialized agencies, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam has directed the Directorate of Fisheries to coordinate with the Central Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam to instruct monks and nuns to responsibly stock and release aquatic species, contributing to the regeneration of aquatic resources, protecting the ecological environment. This is a spiritual culture and has been practiced by the Vietnamese people for many generations. The cooperation with the Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam has mobilized socialization funds to promote the stocking of fisheries resources, creating consensus in the society and strong pervasive power.

Dear Mr. Yu Kangzhen

Esteemed Delegates,

Through today's ceremony, I hope that, with the purpose of protecting and restoring general fisheries resources in the Gulf of Tonkin, in the spirit of friendly cooperation, the Ministry of Agriculture of the two countries, Vietnam and China, will continue to have active and effective cooperation in the field of agriculture and fisheries, assigning functional agencies to coordinate with the implementation of stocking activities for regenerating fisheries resources in the Gulf of Tonkin in the near future to contribute to tightening the good traditional relationship between the people of the two countries.

Lastly, I humbly wish the Leaders of the China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Government of Zhuang Ethnic Autonomous Region, and all of you who attend the ceremony today happiness, health and success.

Wishing our Ceremony a great success.

Best regards!