Vietnam to return waste containers to their source countries: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the meeting with voters in Thuy Nguyen district of Hai Phong city on October 15. Photo: VNA

The PM made the statement while he and other National Assembly (NA) deputies of the northern port city of Hai Phong were meeting with constituents in Thuy Nguyen district.

At the event, held ahead of the NA’s 8^th session, Doan Cong Thuc, a resident in Thuy Nguyen’s Nui Deo township, voiced his concern about environmental pollution, saying that although the Government has paid attention to this issue, many businesses still ignore the proper treatment of toxic waste.

He called on the PM to push ahead with building strict penalties, being more resolute in addressing this problem thoroughly, and attracting investment to developing modern waste treatment plants.

Thuc also suggested the Government step up the inspection of plastic product manufacturers and shut down unqualified ones while encouraging the development of alternatives to plastic items so as to minimise the use of plastics.

In response, PM Phuc highlighted the development triangle of economy, society and environment, noting that Vietnam will not exchange the environment for economic benefits.

The Government will take more drastic actions in dealing with waste, water pollution and plastic rubbish to protect people’s living environment, he said, stressing the viewpoint of not importing waste into Vietnam and resolutely returning containers of waste that have been imported into the country.

He also pledged policies to help plastic producers switch to manufacturing other products and discourage consumers from using single-use plastic items.

At the meeting, the PM also replied to local voters’ opinions concerning many other aspects, including education and support for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Meetings between NA deputies and voters are regular activities before and after each biannual session of the parliament. The 14^th-tenure NA is scheduled to open its 8th session later this month.

Also on October 15, PM Phuc attended the opening ceremony of Hoang Van Thu Bridge on the Cam River in Hai Phong city.

The bridge, with its main span measuring 200 metres in length – the longest span in Vietnam at present, runs through Thuy Nguyen, Hong Bang and Ngo Quyen districts. It is 33.5 metres wide, consists of four lanes, and has the design speed of 80km per hour.

PM Phuc said Hoang Van Thu Bridge, a new symbol of the city, is of critical importance to the expansion of Hai Phong’s development space to the north of the Cam River. He added the bridge, completely designed and built by Vietnam, also proved the capacity of domestic engineers and workers./.

VNF/VNA