VN, Australia beef up agricultural cooperation

Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai (R) and Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Ha Noi, November 6, 2012 – Photo: VGP/Nguyen Linh

Deputy PM Hai was speaking on November 6 in Ha Noi at his reception for Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Joe Ludwid who is on a working visit to Viet Nam.  

According to Mr. Hai, Viet Nam and Australia have become important trade partners of each other with their two-way trade volume rising to US$5 billion.

The Australian Government has so far supported Viet Nam’s agricultural sector in different projects on clean water supply, environmental sanitation, climate change adaptation, assessment of the sector’ integration, training of experts,  improvement of competitiveness for Vietnamese agro-forestry and fishery products, and poverty reduction.

There are wide doors and vast potentials for the two sides to tap in the agricultural sector, said the host leader. He also suggested the Australian Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry encourage Australian businesses to invest in Viet Nam.

Viet Nam always opens the door for foreign players to join in the area, asserted Deputy PM Hai.

The host leader took the occasion to call on Australia to maintain ODA provision for Viet Nam especially in practical projects on rural infrastructure construction, water supply and response to climate change.

For his part, Minister Joe Ludwid briefed the host leader about his recent talks with Vietnamese counterpart Cao Duc Phat.

Mr. Joe Ludwid said Australia defines agriculture as one of the key fields for cooperation with Viet Nam./.

By Kim Loan