Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai (second from left) attends “Averting a Global Food Crisis” session (Photo: VNA) He proposed the establishment of a food innovation hub forSoutheast Asia in Vietnam when addressing the “Averting a Global Food Crisis”session, a panel discussion with World Food Programme Executive Director DavidBeasley, UAE Climate and Environment Minister Mariam Mohammed Saeed Al Mheiri,Tanzania’s Vice President Philip Isdor Mpango, and CEO of the Swiss agriculturecompany Syngenta, J Erik Fyrwald.
Delivering the opening remarks, the Vietnamese Deputy PMaddressed current food shortages and their severity in a number of countries.
“As you know we are going through a crisis on top of acrisis,” he said.
“The double impact of the COVID-19 pandemic andgeo-political intentions in some countries have caused some unprecedentedimpacts on the supply and prices of the global food chain. It has left a directimpact on people’s lives, leaving millions of people facing food shortages.
“Climate change, digital transformation and greenconsumption and enhanced social responsibility have created multi-dimensionalimpacts on the global food system.”
Speaking from Vietnam’s past experience as a country thathad to import food but now is one of the important contributors to global foodsecurity, Khai proposed five recommendations to help alleviate food shortagesaround the world and sustain the global food system.
He said: “First, since food security concerns all people, itneeds a holistic, multidimensional, multi-objective, long-term approach towardsa self-reliant, inclusive and sustainable food system.
“At the moment it’s necessary to provide humanitariansupport to a number of countries facing food shortages. And it’s also necessaryto restore the global food supply system and curb the trade barriers inproviding long-term food supply.
"Second, since food shortage is a global issue,international cooperation needs to be increased to promote the role ofmultidimensional organisations in food security. Countries need to worktogether in a tripartite mechanism to restore the global food supply system.
"Third, solutions related to food security must ensuresocial inclusion and involve people’s responsibility. People should be put atthe centre and considered the ultimate goal of all food security policies.
“We need to ensure the transition of food production towardsan equitable and fair system that takes into consideration the interest of thedisadvantaged and the vulnerable.”
He added, fourth, it’s necessary to build an agro-ecologicalsystem with the participation of all stakeholders in the global food system.
Fifth, countries need to change mindsets and create allconditions to develop and promote a modern and sustainable agricultural sector.
“We need to take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution,apply digital technology, high technology to create a smart, sustainableagricultural value chain,” he said.
He concluded his remarks by proposing the formation of afood hub for Southeast Asia.
“As a country that has certain advantages in terms of agricultureand is moving towards digital transformation in agricultural production, weexpect that countries, international organisations, and WEF members, willsupport the establishment of a food innovation hub for Southeast Asia, based inVietnam,” he said.
He also called on countries and international organisationsto collaborate with Vietnam to come up with measures to respond to climatechange, and build an agricultural sector that meets domestic and internationaldemands.
On the sidelines of the annual meeting, Deputy PM Khai met presidentpro tempore of the United States Senate Patrick Leahy, during which theyexpressed their delight at the strong development of the two countries’relations in various fields.
Khai thanked Senator Leahy and other US parliamentarians forbacking the development of the bilateral ties, especially cooperation inaddressing post-war consequences.
Leahy appreciated the outcomes of the recent meeting betweenUS parliamentarians and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Washington D.C. duringhis trip to the US to attend the ASEAN-US Special Summit and pay working visitsto the United Nations and the US. He added that he will visit Vietnam in thecoming time to continue boosting cooperation in priority fields.
Also on the day, the Vietnamese Deputy PM had workingsessions with leaders of several groups such as Wonderloop, Horasis, MenziesAviation, dHealth Foundation, NAS, Citibank, HSBC and ToGo. He affirmed that Vietnamis determined to pursue a green growth roadmap, and attract green financialresources towards the country's sustainable development.
Businesses affirmed their desire to accompany and cooperatewith Vietnam in the field of green finance, energy transition, green growth,high technology, innovation, human resources development./.
VNA
