Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien and the delegation of MARD talked with the Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs of the UK.
During his official working visit to the United Kingdom, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien met with Ms. Victoria Prentis, Minister of State in the United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
MARD Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien met with Ms. Victoria Prentis on May 25 at the premise of the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom to promote cooperation in the field of agriculture and rural development in alignment with the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Ms. Victoria Prentis stated at the meeting that the United Kingdom awaited the reception and highly valued the visit of MARD Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien and his delegation.
She emphasized the significance of agriculture and rural development cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom, as well as the UK government's strategy to put Vietnam as its the most important partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
The agricultural cooperation between the two nations, which has been encouraged by the two governments, two ministries, and the embassies, has made considerable strides, laying the groundwork for future cooperation and development. Especially since the Vietnam - United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) went into effect, agro-forestry-fishery product trade between the two nations has increased along with turnover.
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien informed and proposed specific cooperation with the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Notably, he requested that the United Kingdom support Vietnam's agriculture industry with programs and projects to produce sustainable landscapes, protect biodiversity, and promote forestry growth in order to meet global commitments to deal with climate change at COP26.
He urged the United Kingdom to commit resources to implement solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture sector (plant restructure, innovating cultivation methods toward low-emission, reducing food waste, utilizing agricultural byproducts; enhancing the quality of land and mangrove forests to increase emission absorption capacity, among others).
The United Kingdom is asked to assist Vietnam in establishing and operating online data on measurement, reporting, and evaluation of greenhouse gas emission reduction and greenhouse gas inventory in the agricultural sector, as well as research on mitigating the effects of climate change and smart agriculture.