Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said on Friday that despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, Vietnam’s agriculture maintained a 2.68% growth last year. In addition to ensuring food security for nearly 100 million people, Vietnam exported 24.3 billion USD agricultural products in the first half of this year, contributing to global food security, said the Deputy Prime Minister.

He delivered an opening speech at the 2nd National Dialogue on Vietnam’s Food System, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the United Nations in Vietnam and international partners in Hanoi on Friday.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh applauded the UN chief’s call to organize a summit on food system in 2021 to help guide and act together to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

“The Government of Vietnam is deeply aware of the need for close cooperation among bilateral and multilateral stakeholders in order to bring about sweeping changes to the whole food system. This will help alleviate poverty, ensure food security and nutrition in rural areas, ethnic minorities and vulnerable groups, especially women and children. This is also an opportunity to connect and develop the value chain of Vietnam’s key agricultural products toward transparency, accountability and sustainability,” said Mr. Minh.

Appreciating Vietnam’s efforts in ensuring food security and agricultural development, Carolyn Turk, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, pledged continued support for Vietnam to overcome challenges.

Source: VOV5