Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam joined 19 ministers and ministerial-level officials of 19 APEC member states at a regional meeting on ocean in Xiamen City of China’s Fujian province on August 27-28.
The 4th APEC Ocean-related Ministerial Meeting (AOMM4) adopted the Xiamen Statement themed “Building New Partnership through Ocean Cooperation in the APEC Region” that proposes four priorities: coastal and marine ecosystem conservation and disaster resilience, the role of the ocean in food security, marine science & technology and innovation cooperation, and blue economy.
Addressing the meeting, Tam noted that marine and ocean cooperation should contribute to meeting the grouping’s common objectives on economic development and prosperity, maintaining peace and stability on the basis of mutual benefit and respect, fully observing international law and common codes of conduct.
He also suggested that search and rescue work at sea should be a priority cooperation area within APEC.
Tam introduced Vietnam’s efforts in implementing cooperation mechanisms to share information about search and rescue at sea, and in setting up hotlines on the issue with neighbouring and regional countries.
He welcomed a blue economy initiative, saying this economic model should balance socio-economic development with sustainable management of coastal resources alongside improving the livelihoods of local people, contributing to poverty reduction.