3:26:42 PM | 7/8/2005
The Agriculture Ministers of Vietnam and the US counterpart signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on June 21 to cooperate in agriculture and other related fields during Prime Minister Phan Van Khai's current visit to the US.
Vietnam’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Cao Duc Phat and US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns inked the MoU to further facilitate cooperation and scientific exchange in agriculture.
According to the MoU, both MARD and the US Department of Agriculture (DOA) reached a consensus on enhancing the exchanges of and cooperation between the two countries' scientists and agricultural development research agencies.
They agreed to facilitate these scientists and agencies' exchanges of information, ideas, skills and techniques while promoting cooperation opportunities in solving agricultural issues of common concern. They also agreed to mobilize available resources for agricultural research and build training programs for mutual benefits.
Under the MoU, DOA will help MARD conduct scientific research into key agriculture technology as well as access new technology, bio-technology and farm produce processing technology and especially new varieties of seedlings and domestic animals.
A joint committee will be set up to provide guidance, facilitate cooperation and review the operation process within the MoU framework. The committee will also devise an agricultural cooperation program between the two ministries.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Johanns said that the MoU would contribute to consolidating the two countries' relationship not only in the present but also the future. He said he hoped for further cooperation between the two ministries for mutual benefits. For his part, Phat said that the MoU would expand the two ministries' scale of cooperation, thus contributing to accelerating the Vietnam-US relationship.
Vietnamese
