The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) believes in a comprehensive and efficient relationship with Vietnam , said the incoming chief representative to the country, Yuriko Shoji.

In a recent interview granted to Rome-based Vietnam News Agency correspondent on the FAO’s priorities within the FAO-Vietnam relationship and her plans for her term of office in the country, Yuriko Shoji highlighted the cooperative relationship between the FAO and the Vietnamese Government.

Food security issues in Vietnam are quite complex and challenging, she said, noting that the Southeast Asian nation has a fast growing economy and is one of the world’s leading exporters of food.

However, she said, Vietnam faces climate change and environmental and biosphere protection issues, particularly challenges to fishing and forestry.

Yuriko Shoji commended Vietnam on its successes in putting the “One UN” pilot programme into action.

She said that she believed the FAO and other UN agencies work well together but that there should be stronger links between the FAO and Vietnam and between the FAO and other UN bodies.

On Vietnam ’s role within the FAO framework and the nation’s contributions to the South-South cooperation, Yuriko Shoji, who has more than 20 years of experience working with UN agencies and will be the FAO’s first female chief representative to Vietnam , praised Vietnam ’s fast development in recent years.

She said she hoped that Vietnam , a leading nation in many regional and global fields, will share its experiences with other developing nations in the region and the world at large.

She emphasised the importance and necessity of South-South cooperation as Vietnam has a wealth of experience in development, an abundant workforce and a large pool of knowledgeable staff.

She pledged to facilitate Vietnam sharing its experiences through the South-South cooperation programme./.