At a reception for Permanent Representative of Vietnam to FAO Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Hue in Rome, on February 7, Da Silva spoke highly of the effective cooperation between the Vietnamese Government and the organisation, considering it as an example of collaboration that has significantly contributed to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He also welcomed Vietnam’s participation in the Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and agreed with Vietnam’s proposal for enhanced cooperation in this regard, covering technical support and high-tech application.
For her part, Hue applauded FAO’s collaboration and support to Vietnam over the past few years, saying Vietnam will contribute more to the organisation’s activities in the future, especially in the areas where the country has strengths and experiences such as rice cultivation and aquaculture, as well as South-South cooperation.
Despite the marked achievements in poverty reduction, Vietnam has still faced various challenges, especially in the context of adverse impacts of natural disasters and climate change, and complex commercial ties, she said.
Given this, Vietnam hopes to receive more assistance from FAO in building green, smart agriculture that is competitive and adaptive to climate change, thus helping to ensure food security, develop the national economy and improve the livelihood of local people, Hue added.
Hue also pledged to do her utmost to promote cooperation between FAO and Vietnam during her term of office.
