State President Nguyen Minh Triet on February 20 launched a tree-planting festival at Dong Van industrial zone, in the northern province of Ha Nam, recalling Uncle Ho’s call in Spring 1960 for an annual tree-planting festival.
The 50th Tree Planting Festival this year entitled “planting trees to mitigate impacts of climate change” has become a national tradition since it was started by President Ho Chi Minh.
Addressing the launching ceremony, President Triet said to keep the tradition alive, many trees would be planted and millions of hectares of forests would be cared for.
The complex effects of climate change resulted in storms and floods causing property damage and human suffering, so environment protection is an important mission, President Triet said.
Everyone must be more aware of the importance of forest protection to face the challenges caused by illegal logging and forest fires, President Triet added.
The same day, President Triet attended the Tich Dien Mua Xuan (Spring Ploughing) Festival, which was initiated more than 1,000 years ago to promote agriculture, at Doi Son commune, Ha Nam province.
Speaking at the festival, the President said although Vietnam is advancing to be more industrialized and modern, it still places importance on agriculture as more than 60 percent of the population rely on farming for their income.
