Asia-Europe Meeting Discuss Food Security in Vietnam

More than 60 delegates attended the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Ho Chi Minh City on July 5 to discuss ways to ensure food security in a sustainable manner. Among the participants were representatives from international organizations, such as the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Addressing the forum, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong affirmed that Vietnam is committed to strengthen international cooperation to address food security issues. He emphasized that Vietnam is one of five countries seriously affected by rising price levels, so the country has devised agricultural development strategies and food security policies while considering national socio-economic development, industrialization guidelines and poverty issues among farmers. Agricultural development must ensure food security, in which rice is the key product, he said, adding that the State has encouraged all economic sectors to join hands with farmers to produce more rice to eliminate hunger in remote and mountainous areas.

The forum focused discussions on the impact of the global economic crisis on food security as well as the rising prices of food, new epidemics, and decreasing agricultural land and water resources. Participants agreed to strengthen coordination among ASEM member countries by accelerating technological transfer, and boosting public-private partnership.

Additional information is available at http://english.vietnamnet.vn/politics/201007/ASEM-forum-on-food-security-opens-in-HCM-City-920329/