Minister Le Minh Hoan: South-South Cooperation fosters sustainable development goals

The linkage of developing nations has particular importance within the framework of a quickly evolving, uncertain world that is significantly impacted by climate change, diseases, food crises, poverty, and hunger.

Vietnam is one of the world's largest rice exporters. Vietnam has set a goal of becoming a transparent - responsible - sustainable food producer and provider, with a green, low-emission agricultural aiming for 'net zero' emissions by 2050.

With its previous experience with international backers, Vietnam is ready and committed to extending South-South Cooperation (SSC) to assist African nations in ensuring food security and nutrients while focusing on the goals of green growth, sustainable development, and prosperity.

In April 2023, Vietnam will host the fourth Global Conference on Sustainable Food Systems as part of the One Planet Network, in collaboration with FAO, IRRI, and other international organizations. Delegates from other nations and organizations praised Vietnam's strong commitment and contributions to ensuring food security, as well as the strengthening of food system transformation in the direction of transparency and responsibility.

The Vietnam-Africa policy dialogue workshop: South-South cooperation to support food system transformation, held within the framework of the International Festival of Vietnam Rice Industry - Hau Giang 2023, is regarded as a next step in reaffirming Vietnam's efforts and international partners in promoting South-South cooperation, thereby supporting both Vietnam and Africa's sustainable food system transformation.

"I believe that the workshop would open up a more tightened series of South- South Cooperation between Vietnam and African countries, as well as the triangular cooperation between Vietnam, international partners and Africa for the prosperty and sustainable development of all sides and the world" , Le Minh Hoan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said.

The Vietnam-Africa policy dialogue workshop: South-South cooperation to support food system transformation is the first of four seminars organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at the International Festival of Vietnam Rice Industry - Hau Giang 2023.

The workshop primarily focuses on exploring strategies to foster cooperation in science and technology that are specifically designed to suit the particular circumstances of Africa. This entails improving the interconnectivity of agricultural and food value chains in the South-South region, encouraging collaboration among countries in the South-South region in global rice trade and food security, and facilitating technical cooperation between Vietnam and African nations to revolutionize agricultural and food systems. The focus will be on sharing experiences to promote sustainable rice growth via the South-South Cooperation facilitated by the "Green Innovation Centers - GIC" initiative.

Specialized debates and discussions will provide many viewpoints on the transformation of agricultural and food systems, including the difficulties, possibilities, and the contribution of South-South Cooperation in reducing knowledge and technological disparities.

The workshop will end with the signing ceremony between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the FAO representative in Sierra Leone for the South-South Project Cooperation. Furthermore, there will be a formal agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding, between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). This agreement will focus on coordinating scientific, technical, and institutional efforts as part of the South-South Cooperation. The main objective is to facilitate the transformation of food and agricultural systems.

Three workshops will be held on December 13: Workshop on Developing the Vietnam Rice Value Chain with Sustainable Responsibility; Workshop on Global Rice Market and Future Trends; and Conference on Rice Science, Technology, and Innovation.

The first International Rice Festival is scheduled to be held in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang from December 11 to 15, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The festival is aimed at promoting high-quality rice production, improving value chains, boosting green growth, ensuring food security, and adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta region, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung told a press briefing on December 2.

It will present opportunities to introduce the potential, strengths, and quality of rice to boost national rice trade while promoting Vietnam as a responsible nation in the global food industry.

The festival will feature various activities, including exhibitions, conferences, and field trips to introduce advanced techniques in rice production in the Mekong Delta region to international friends.