Speaking at the two-day meeting, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh said food and energy security as well as climate change are the leading global challenges in the context of increasing food and energy prices and natural disasters.
He underlined the significance of ASEAN+3 co-operation, saying that in order to cope with such challenges ASEAN and the world need to promote food production in emergencies.
Since its launch, the APTERR has upheld its role in helping people in the Philippines overcome the consequences of Typhoon Haiyan and has aided people affected by natural disasters in several localities in Laos, the Deputy Minister added.
At this meeting, the APTERR Council focused their discussion and amendments and supplements to regulations and procedures on financial management, as well as the action plan for the 2014-2015 period.
The 11th ASEAN Plus Three Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF Plus Three) signed the APTERR Agreement on October 7, 2011 to ensure the long-term food security and livelihoods of people in the region.
The APTERR Council was established in 2012 with the participation of the ten ASEAN member countries as well as Japan, the Republic of Korea and China.
The primary function of the APTERR is food aid for assistance to build confidence in encountering food shortages due to temporary natural disaster or man-made calamity, through provision of food assistance and nutrition improvement programs to the needy.
