Delegates at the event (Photo: VNA)ThuaThien-Hue (VNA) – The Special Senior Officials Meeting of the 40th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (Special SOM-AMAF)opened in Vietnam’s central province of Thua Thien-Hue on August 5.
The eventbrought together 130 delegates from 10 member countries of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN), leaders of ministries of agriculture andforestry of the ASEAN countries and representatives from internationalorganisations.
TheMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam – Chair of the AMAF 40and the 18th Meeting of the AMAF and Ministerson Agriculture of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (18th AMAF+3) –has constructively participated in cooperation activities within the AMAF and ASEANin general.
Right after the opening ceremony, the officials discussed and proposed somepriorities in agriculture and forestry such as improving border trademanagement, harmonising technical standards of goods quality, food safety and plantand animal quarantine in ASEAN, and ensuring food and nutrition security andfood safety, among others.
Theyexchanged experience in models of rural and agricultural development, responseto climate change and international economic integration.
Thedelegates also reviewed ASEAN collaboration in agriculture and forestry sincethe AMAF 40 which took place in Hanoi last October.
During thetwo-day Special SOM-AMAF, the delegates will also adopt cooperation strategiesand policies in the region, ratify operation plans of special working groupsand mull over major relevant issues.
They will touch upon cooperation with partnersoutside the region, aiming to develop agriculture sustainably and ensure food securityamidst climate change.
Last year, apart from the 40th AMAF, Hanoi also hosted the 18th AMAF+3, the sixth ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting onQuality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine (SPS) Cooperation, and SOM meetings.-VNA
VNA
