At a conference with agriculture counsellors or attachés of 10 countries to Vietnam on May 13, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan proposed promoting international cooperation in agricultural sector.

According to Minister Le Minh Hoan, agriculture plays a crucial role in Vietnam’s economy, accounting for approximately 12 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and with over 60 per cent of the population residing in rural areas.

Vietnam has therefore worked to promote inclusive agricultural transformation and emission reduction in agriculture.  Vietnamese agricultural products have high diversity and are aiming towards green growth. Moreover, Vietnam is one of the major exporters of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. So it is necessary to improve the logistics and distribution system, as well as information sharing with international partners.

Additionally, Vietnam is transitioning its food security and nutrition systems towards transparency, responsibility, and sustainability to ensure national food security, while spares no efforts in addressing climate change as it is among the countries severely affected by this disaster.

To achieve the target of sustainable development, Vietnam has always given top priority to international cooperation in all fields, especially in agriculture.

Discussions at the conference focused on cooperation between Vietnam and international partners. Mr. Ralph Bean, U.S. Agricultural Counselor to Vietnam, emphasizes the importance of transparent policies to attract private investment. Meanwhile, Mr. Juliano Vieira, Agricultural attaché of the Brazilian Embassy in Vietnam, suggested that both countries collaborate on finding suitable solutions tailored to their unique characteristics to reduce emissions and achieve net-zero emission targets. Minister Le Minh Hoan reaffirms Vietnam's commitment to building positive relationships with other countries while striving for green and sustainable growth.

The Minister also highlighted three significant challenges facing agriculture: climate change, market volatility, and changes in unsustainable patterns of consumption. He stressed that each product must be produced transparently and responsibly toward the environment and society.