Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Saturday attended the launch of a tree-planting festival in the south-central province of Phu Yen, in response to a program to plant 1 billion trees in the next 5 years.
Prime Minister Phuc proposed the 1 billion tree program in the 2021-2025 period at a National Assembly session last November, the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reported.
He told participants at the Phu Yen tree planting festival that the program is expected to contribute to greening barren hills and rural and urban areas across the country.
“President Ho Chi Minh underlined the importance of tree planting. Low as its cost is, the program is expected to greatly benefit people’s living conditions. In 1959, President Ho Chi Minh launched Vietnam’s first tree planting festival. For a greener and more beautiful Vietnam is the message the 1 billion tree program conveys,” said Mr. Phuc.
“Only when the economy develops, a peaceful society is secured, culture flourishes, the environment is protected, and humans live in harmony with nature can people enjoy real peace and happiness,” he said.
At the ceremony, many companies and investors, including budget carrier Vietjet Air, pledged hundreds of thousands of USD to the tree planting program.
Working with Phu Yen leaders the same day, Prime Minister Phuc urged the province to boost the private economic sector, particularly tourism businesses. He described Phu Yen’s tourism as a rare rough diamond that needs to be processed by skillful craftsmen, according to the VOV.