At the meeting, Director General Nguyen Duc Toan and the delegation shared highlights of Viet Nam's participation in UNOC3, including attendance at various thematic sessions and bilateral discussions, particularly those focusing on key topics such as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), financing mechanisms for ocean conservation, blue economy, and marine plastic pollution.

VASI representatives emphasized the importance of implementing global commitments, notably the "30x30" pledge to protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, and the newly adopted BBNJ Agreement. Viet Nam is actively mainstreaming these goals into its national marine conservation strategies and policies through concrete actions such as advancing marine spatial planning (MSP), expanding marine protected areas, and promoting nature-based solutions (NbS) to address climate change.

Meeting with WWF Representatives on the Blue Panda – a Symbol of Ocean Action
A highlight of the Vietnamese delegation’s participation at UNOC3 was a bilateral meeting with WWF representatives from Germany, France, Portugal, and the United Kingdom aboard the Blue Panda – WWF’s flagship vessel for ocean action, docked at the port of Nice as part of UNOC3 side events.

During the meeting, both sides reviewed the achievements and future direction of the project “Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste in Viet Nam,” funded by WWF-Germany. Director General Nguyen Duc Toan expressed appreciation for the support from the German Government through WWF. After five years of implementation, the project has delivered significant results, such as promoting extended producer responsibility (EPR), piloting community-based models for waste sorting and recycling, raising public and business awareness, and contributing to the implementation of the National Action Plan for Ocean Plastic Waste Management to 2030.

The meeting also explored potential areas for future cooperation, including national marine spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, and technical support for the negotiation and implementation of the global plastic treaty. Director General Toan also shared information about the restructuring of VASI, which will come with expanded responsibilities in developing strategies, planning, and sustainable management of marine resources.

WWF’s Continued Commitment to Supporting National Goals
WWF-Viet Nam highly values VASI’s proactive and committed role at UNOC3, as well as Viet Nam’s long-term vision for marine environmental protection. WWF believes these international commitments can be effectively translated into concrete actions through collaborative programs between national authorities and international partners.

Looking ahead, WWF-Viet Nam reaffirms its commitment to mobilizing resources and providing technical assistance to support the Government, MAE, and VASI in implementing global commitments such as BBNJ, 30x30, and marine plastic pollution control. This includes scaling up successful results from the ocean plastic project nationwide, supporting policy and institutional development after the global plastic treaty is adopted, and contributing to the planning and management of marine protected areas in Viet Nam.

The working session reflected strong alignment and mutual trust between Viet Nam’s environmental authorities and WWF in achieving the shared goal of ocean conservation for sustainable development and the well-being of future generations.