Vietnam, UNDP discuss boosting circular agriculture practices: At the event. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien highlighted Vietnam's commitment to a circular economy, pointing to existing policies and directives, including Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.

The agricultural sector has promoted the application and implementation of circular agriculture, explicitly addressed in the 2021-2030 strategy for sustainable agriculture and rural development (with a vision to 2050), and a scheme promoting the application and transfer of sci-tech for a circular agricultural economy by 2030, he said.

Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, commended Vietnam's efforts to fulfill its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - commitments made under the Paris Agreement. She acknowledged the multifaceted benefits of circular agriculture – addressing climate change goals, enhancing economic competitiveness, and protecting human health and ecosystems.

She called for stronger collaboration to build and perform circular economy policies. This includes ensuring equitable investment allocation, fostering knowledge sharing and cooperation, and leveraging the power of agricultural value chains and sci-tech for communication campaigns to raise awareness.

UNDP, she reaffirmed, remains committed to supporting the Vietnamese Government in this journey.

Representatives from international and non-governmental organisations, the private sector, ministries and agencies shared insights on international cooperation mechanisms, interdisciplinary coordination to promote circular agriculture practices, and successful case studies.

Participants underlined public-private partnerships in driving the success of circular agriculture, with the private sector applying sci-tech to advance relevant initiatives.