Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremonywas held in Hanoi on October 16 to mark the 38th World Food Day and 40 years ofthe UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s presence in Vietnam.

The event was organised by the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and FAO Vietnam.

This year’s World Food Day (October 16) is themed“Our Actions are our Future” and is working towards a ‘Zero Hunger World’ by2030.

Global figures recorded a rise in world hungerand the population of malnourished people in 2017 for the third consecutiveyear, with a total of 821 million suffering from hunger (equal to 11 percent ofthe global population). Meanwhile, other forms of malnutrition have alsoincreased, with at least 1.5 billion people having suffered from micronutrientdeficiencies that undermined their health and lives last year.

The World Food Day and its ‘Zero Hunger’ goalalso reflects the spirit of the FAO and the Government of Vietnam's fruitfulpartnership over the past four decades to transform the country from a foodimporter to an exporter, as well as ensure its population’s access to enoughhigh-quality food to lead active and healthy lives.

A report at the ceremony noted thatduring the past 40 years, the FAO has assisted Vietnam to implement almost500 projects to support hunger eradication; poverty reduction; and ensure foodand nutrition security in areas such as crop production, animal husbandry,animal and plant health, forestry, and fisheries.

Despite significant progress, Vietnam stillfaces key challenges to ensuring food and nutrition security, especially inisolated areas. Meanwhile, climate change and natural disasters are becomingincreasingly critical threats.

FAO Vietnam representative Albert Lieberg stated:“The people of Vietnam are an extraordinary example of a success story both innation and economy building. Nevertheless, we need to be extremely cautious andremain on top of the current agenda of constantly changing parameters, inparticular the accelerating impact of climate change that is provoking seriouschallenges for our lives and livelihoods as well as the increasing complexityof trade, both nationally and globally.”

He added that going forward, the FAO remainscommitted to supporting Vietnam to achieve the 2030 Development Agenda and SDGs,as well as remain fully responsive to national changes, including broaderregional and global issues.

MARD Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh said thatsince opening its economy in 1986 with effective assistance of internationalpartners, including the FAO, Vietnam has not only produced enough food fordomestic consumption but also exported approximately 5-7 million tonnes of riceeach year overseas.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in ensuringfood security for nearly 95 million people in the country, and in ensuringsocial stability and livelihoods for almost 65 percent of rural population. Itmakes up 17 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) of Vietnam.

Doanh noted that Vietnam is ready to shareexperience with other developing nations. A wave of Vietnamese experts havebrought new species and appropriate technologies to several countries inAfrica, Latin America, and Asia to help carry out food security programmes.

At the ceremony, the MARD presented the “For thecause of Agriculture and Rural Development” insignia to FAO staff in Vietnam.–VNA