Vietnam was described by FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva as o­ne of 38 countries having fulfilled the millennium development goals (MDGs) for poverty reduction.

He pledged to continue assistance to countries which are making constant efforts in combating poverty.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu spoke highly of FAO’s recognition of Vietnam’s efforts to implement MDG and ensure cooking security.

She thanked the Organization’s technical assistance and relief aid, as well as its guidelines to help Vietnam complete policies and institutions in the field of agriculture and rural development over the past three decades.

Thu mentioned Vietnam’s important achievements in boosting agricultural production, ensuring food security and improving people’s living conditions despite numerous challenges caused by population growth, natural disasters and a reduction in cultivation areas.

She emphasized that Vietnam has already reduced the poverty level by half in the two periods between 1990-1992 and 2010-2012.

A Vietnamese delegation is in Rome from June 15-22 for the 38th Session of the FAO Conference which is focused o­n poverty reduction, rural development, food security, food prices, and multi-media role in promoting poverty reduction campaigns.