Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) speaks at the conference.

Speaking at the May 25 conference, themed “Food security and nutrition for all,' Nga said Africa’s population is expected to reach 2.5 billion by 205, equivalent to a quarter of the global population.

African nations are making efforts to make impressive socio-economic reforms, and calling for cooperation and support for the African Union’s initiatives and Agenda 2063, she noted.

The ambassador emphasized that Vietnam is a reliable partner of Africa, and the relationship between the two sides has grown from the traditional friendship and mutual support during the past struggles for national liberation and the present cause of national construction and defense.

Vietnam also acknowledges African friends’ support at international forums, helping the country become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.

Nga went on to say that Vietnam has sent many agricultural and medical experts to some African nations like Algeria, Angela, Mozambique and the Ivory Coast.

A number of big Vietnamese enterprises such as Viettel are doing business in Tanzania, Mozambique and Cameroon, and have reaped marked results, she added.

The ambassador stressed that Vietnam will continue its companionship with the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) and others international partners to assist African nations in all spheres, especially agriculture, in the spirit of mutual benefit, in order to ensure food security and nutrition for all Africans, for inclusive growth and sustainable development in the continent, and for global peace and prosperity.

Experts from the Institute for African and Middle Eastern Studies (IAMES) at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Vietnam - Africa Economic Cooperation Alliance (VAECA) and the OIF exchanged views, experience and measures to boost agriculture to ensure food security and nutrition for all, particularly vulnerable groups.

The conference also featured business-to-business (B2B), business-to-customer (B2C), and business-to-government (B2G) dialogues that aim to spur trade and investment in various fields.

Associate Prof. Dr. Le Phuoc Minh, IAMES Director and VAECA President, said over the past 20 years, Vietnam has sent more than 2,000 agricultural experts to help African nations in rice and corn cultivation, and aquaculture, in the tripartite format.

Associate Prof. Dr. Le Phuoc Minh, IAMES Director and VAECA President speaks at the event.

Such programs have contributed to raising productivity of rice and fishing farming in some African countries, he said, stressing that with its experience in poverty reduction and agricultural development, Vietnam is willing to aid African friends in this regard.

Kaloyan Kolev, representative of the OIF in Asia-Pacific, also suggested that Africa should learn from Vietnam’s experience in poverty reduction and agricultural development.

He held that there is still massive potential for the South-South cooperation as well as collaboration between Vietnam, Africa and the OIF, and it should be better tapped.

Kaloyan Kolev, representative of the OIF in Asia-Pacific, suggests Africa learn from Vietnam’s experience in poverty reduction and agricultural development.

The OIF has been paying due attention and giving great resources to the South-South cooperation and the tripartite partnership, the representative said.

Kolev noted that the OIF aims to enhance cooperation between Vietnam and other OIF members, including agricultural ties, and promote the signing of free trade agreements, which would be tools to foster cooperation between Vietnam and Africa./.

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