Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamstands ready to join regional and international efforts in building mechanismsand regulations in order to promote cooperation in tackling marine litter, ForeignMinistry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed on July 25.

She made the statement while answering reporters’ queries regarding collaborationin maritime plastic waste combat within the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN) and Vietnam’s viewpoints on this matter.

Hang said Vietnam has considered marine debris a global pressing issue thatseriously threatens the marine eco-system.

The country has encouraged the participation of the entire society in the fightagainst plastic waste, aiming to be free of single-use plastic products by2025, according to the spokeswoman.

Hang said ASEAN leaders adopted the Bangkok Declaration on Combating MarineDebris in ASEAN and the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris during the34th ASEAN Summit in Thailand on June 22.

Under the documents, the ASEAN member countries committed to implementingspecific measures to effectively respond to marine debris, including plasticwaste.

They also agreed to enhance regional and international cooperation as well ascollaboration between the State and the private sector, build capacity and callfor support of partners.

Besides, they will step up education and communication work to encourage theparticipation of the public in the combat, and promote national and regional actionprogrammes to prevent, mitigate and manage marine debris, Hang said.

Regarding the settlement of imported scraps, the spokesperson said the scrapsmust satisfy the Law on Environmental Protection and be included in the list ofscraps allowed to be imported into Vietnam as production materials asstipulated in the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 73/2014/QD-TTg dated December19, 2014 and other relevant documents.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has also issued legal documentsthat set higher quality of scraps, Hang said.

Any organisations and individuals who import waste under the name of scrapswill be fined in line with the law, she said, further explaining that theirimported scraps will be forced to return to where it comes from or destroyedand they will face administrative punishments and not be allowed to use the certificate ofeligibility in environmental protection in import of scraps asproduction materials.-VNA