On the morning of 8/6, during a meeting with the Central Policy and Strategy Board regarding the review project for Resolution 36 of the 12th Central Committee, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that a new resolution must bring about a strong shift in thinking, institutions, and the model of maritime development with a long-term vision.

Evaluating Resolution 36 as a correct strategic decision, the head of the Party and State noted that after 8 years of implementation, awareness of the sea's position and role has increased. The policy system has gradually improved, many marine economic sectors have developed, coastal infrastructure has been strengthened, and the livelihoods of people in coastal areas have improved. National defense, security, and the protection of maritime sovereignty have achieved significant results.

However, the marine economy has not yet developed commensurately with its potential, advantages, and the country's development requirements. Therefore, reviewing Resolution 36 and developing a new resolution must be carried out urgently to open a new phase of development.

The head of the Party and State called for a fundamental renewal of maritime development thinking, shifting from an economic approach to viewing the sea as a national development space. The sea should not only be a place for resource exploitation or the development of certain economic sectors, but must be defined as a strategic development space, where interests in growth, national defense, security, science and technology, and international integration converge.

The new resolution must not only address the challenge of developing marine economic sectors but also define how to exploit, manage, and promote the entire national maritime space to serve development goals for many decades to come. It must clarify the vision of a strong maritime nation in the 21st century, identifying the sea's role and contribution to strategic goals until 2030, 2045, and subsequent periods.

General Secretary and President To Lam chaired a meeting on Vietnam's sustainable marine economic development strategy, on the morning of 8/6. Photo: TTXVN

The General Secretary and President requested that the sea become one of the strategic development drivers in implementing the Resolution of the 14th Party Congress. It is essential to identify areas capable of creating breakthroughs and approach marine development through science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. The new resolution should also consider adding content such as national marine data, digital ocean maps, and the application of artificial intelligence in maritime governance and marine economic development.

According to him, marine development must be closely linked with the task of early, distant, and sea-based national defense. All maritime development plans, strategies, and programs must simultaneously serve the requirements of protecting national sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and enhancing maritime defense capabilities.

He also called for research into a modern, unified, and interconnected national maritime governance model based on national marine data and spatial planning. The Central Policy and Strategy Board needs to coordinate with the Government Party Committee and the Office of the Party Central Committee to finalize the project and action program for submission to the Politburo and reporting to the Central Committee for consideration.

"The new resolution must possess a long-term strategic vision, breakthrough thinking, and high actionability, truly making the sea a strategic development space and a new driver for the country's rapid, sustainable growth," said the General Secretary and President.

Vu Tuan