Vietnam sets example in poverty reduction: FAO

Vietnam has set a great example in developing rural areas, reducing poverty and ensuring food security, says FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva.Da Silva, who is attending the FAO Regional Conference on Asia and the Pacific (APRC), made the compliment while working with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on March 14. He said the conference offers a good chance for other nations to learn from Vietnam’s experience.The Director General said he hopes Vietnam will share its experience by actively participating in South-South and triangular cooperation frameworks, and reaffirmed that he will do his utmost to strengthen FAO-Vietnam ties in the future.FM Minh expressed his appreciation for FAO assistance to Vietnam in agriculture and rural development over the years. He proposed that FAO continue helping the country successfully implement its policies related to agriculture, farmers, and rural areas in order to ensure food security and safety, increase nutritional value, reduce poverty, improve farmer livelihoods in a sustainable manner, protect the environment, and deal with climate change.Minh reaffirmed that Vietnam will make greater contributions to FAO operations, including participating in South-South and triangular cooperation frameworks.** On the same day, Da Silva was received by State President Truong Tan Sang, who committed to backing FAO initiatives and activities in the future.Speaking highly of the FAO South-South cooperation framework, President Sang said Vietnam is willing to send its leading experts to developing countries to help them develop agro-forestry-fisheries.The State leader asked FAO to continue helping Vietnam with its agricultural cooperation projects.Da Silva highly valued Vietnam’s contributions to ensuring food security and reducing poverty in the world, and thanked the Southeast Asian nation for creating favourable conditions for FAO-funded projects to be effectively implemented in Vietnam.VOV