MAE proposes 4 cooperation areas to FAO

During the official visit to Italy by National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the high-level Vietnamese delegation, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Qu Dongyu.

Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung expressed his gratitude to FAO and to Director-General himself for the continued companionship and support for Viet Nam in promoting sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security.

He stated that Viet Nam is accelerating the restructuring of its agriculture and food systems toward a green, low-emission, sustainable, climate-resilient model with higher added value. Along this path, Viet Nam has highly valued FAO’s support in technical assistance, policy advice, and resource mobilization in the past. 

During the working session, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Vo Van Hung proposed that FAO focus on several key priorities. Viet Nam wishes to further deepen its cooperation with FAO in a more substantive, effective, and focused manner, contributing actively to global food security and sustainable development goals.

First, to strengthen coordination in developing specific programs and projects to support Viet Nam in mobilizing international resources, especially climate finance, to implement sustainable agricultural development objectives.

Second, to support the transformation of food systems and the development of ecological and circular agriculture, integrating the One Health approach to ensure harmony between humans and the environment.

Third, to promote science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation to improve the efficiency of agricultural value chains.

Fourth, to promote South - South Cooperation, enhancing Viet Nam’s role in sharing agricultural development experience and models with other developing countries, and to request FAO’s continued support in connecting and mobilizing resources for these activities.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu expressed his impression of Viet Nam’s strong economic growth momentum, particularly its outstanding achievements in agriculture and environment.

He emphasized that agricultural, forestry, and fishery export turnover exceeded 70 billion USD in 2025, while rice export volume surpassed 7 million tons. These are remarkable figures that not only contribute to ensuring food security for more than 100 million people domestically but also play an important role in stabilizing global food supply.

“Viet Nam has achieved many accomplishments in agriculture and has risen to become an agricultural powerhouse, fully capable of supporting other countries through South - South Cooperation and Triangular Cooperation,” the head of FAO affirmed.

He emphasized that FAO always regards Viet Nam as an important partner and expects Viet Nam to continue to play a central role in sharing knowledge, technology, and experience in sustainable agricultural development.

The FAO Director-General also noted that Viet Nam’s production models, which are adaptive to practical conditions, cost-effective, and highly efficient, to serve as valuable lessons for many developing countries. FAO reaffirmed its commitment to continuing to support Viet Nam in connecting resources, expanding cooperation networks, and implementing joint initiatives, thereby contributing to the transformation of food systems toward greater sustainability and inclusiveness.

As a trusted partner working for the common development interests of countries within the framework of South-South Cooperation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued Decision No. 3786/QĐ-BNNMT on the establishment of the South-South Cooperation Working Group in agriculture. The establishment of this specialized Working Group demonstrates the Ministry’s determination to create an official coordination mechanism, ensuring inter-sectoral, transparent, and effective cooperation in implementing initiatives with countries of the Global South.

The establishment of this mechanism makes Viet Nam the first country in the world to have a dedicated focal point for South - South Cooperation. It is expected to create a regular platform for policy dialogue, technology transfer, human resource training, the implementation of sustainable production models, and the promotion of agricultural markets, in which Viet Nam plays a contributing role to its partners.