Agriculture Minister holds a working session with Ambassador Knapper in Ha Noi. (Photo: nongnghiep.vn)

During a working session with the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on April 13, Knapper expressed the US appreciation for Viet Nam’s strong commitment to its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

With regard to agricultural-related issues, the US is ready to provide technical, financial, professional and human support to help Viet Nam respond to climate change, he said.

For his part, MARD Minister Le Minh Hoan affirmed that Viet Nam is ready to promote cooperation programs as well as to work closely with the US to remove barriers to agricultural trade between the two countries.

He welcomed the US Department of Commerce’s recent decision to slash the anti-dumping duties on Viet Nam’s honey exporters by almost sevenfold compared to its preliminary conclusions.

The move could help Vietnamese beekeepers develop and expand the honey market in the US, said Minister Hoan who on this occasion invited the US diplomat to visit honey production facilities in Viet Nam to learn more about this product.

At the working session, Ambassador Knapper assured his host that the US wants to become one of the top partners chosen by Viet Nam, pointing to the fact that US agricultural products can contribute to ensuring food security and an abundant supply for the Vietnamese market, while Viet Nam provides very diverse products to US consumers.

Appreciating the diplomat’s viewpoint, Minister Hoan suggested that the two sides continue to work to keep trade smooth as agricultural products of the US exported to Viet Nam stand firm in the market, and said that he hopes the US side will open the market for Vietnamese pomelos.

The Minister also suggested that the US support Viet Nam with projects on preservation technology to ensure quality standards, thereby gaining deeper access to the US market.

Both sides also examined cooperation in helping Viet Nam address the IUU yellow card issue and produce an African Swine Fever vaccine.