In his speech, MARD Deputy Minister Bui Ba Bong said that Vietnam has actively participated in promoting agricultural cooperation in the region and the globe as well.

Delegates will finalise reports for discussion at the 31^st ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry, which cover cooperation programmes and financial plans for the coming years, said Bong.

The Special SOM-AMAF 30 focused on developing models of cooperation to increase approachability, providing food for the poor, expanding the agro-forestry market by establishment of a free trade agreement among ASEAN member countries as well as promoting cooperation in human resources training and transfer of technology to increase the quality of agro-forestry products and the competitive edge on the international market.

Senior officials underlined the need to boost technical cooperation between ASEAN member countries, between ASEAN and its partners with a focus on vegetable production and research, bio-technology, animal and plant quarantine and forest management.

On the occasion, a fact-finding tour of the Mekong River Delta will be conducted as part of the three-day meeting.