Vietnam will continue to support United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) initiatives and activities, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung made the commitment while receiving FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva in Hanoi on March 15.

Vietnam strongly backs FAO’s South-South cooperation programme and has sent its agricultural experts and technicians to help developing countries develop agroforestry and fisheries, said Dung.

The PM highlighted FAO’s consideration of Vietnam as its strategic partner in agricultural cooperation with more than 400 projects funded, and as a technical assistance provider for the country in agricultural and rural development.

He urged FAO to further support Vietnam, focusing on food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

Da Silva, who is attending the 31st FAO Regional Conference on Asia and the Pacific (APRC), expressed his delight at Vietnam’s agricultural achievements in recent years. He said the country has set a good example in agricultural and rural development, food security, poverty reduction and environmental protection.

He also praised Vietnam’s active cooperation in organising the ongoing conference in Hanoi, which offers a good chance for other nations to learn more about Vietnam’s experience.

The Director General pledged to do his utmost to strengthen bilateral ties in the future and expressed hope that Vietnam will share its experience by actively participating in the South-South and cooperative frameworks.

Earlier, the same day, PM Dung met with the heads of delegations to the conference./.