On August 19 in Ha Noi, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang received Ms. Pauline Tamesis, the UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam. Taking place as Vietnam is finalizing its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) in preparation for COP30, the meeting underscored not only Vietnam’s political determination in responding to climate change but also the UN’s long-term commitment to supporting the country through finance, technology, and policy cooperation towards the Sustainable Development Goals and Net Zero.

From the tea-covered hills stretching across Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh (now part of Quang Tri), and Quang Tri provinces, a research team from the University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University conducted a large-scale investigation to decode the diversity of local tea germplasm. Using 31 tea accessions collected from four provinces, analyzed for morphological traits and genetic diversity using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, the team constructed a comprehensive overview of morphological variation and genetic relationships among tea accessions in the North Central region. The findings not only add essential data to Vietnam’s tea germplasm database but also provide a scientific basis for conservation and sustainable development of this culturally significant crop.

As the world accelerates efforts to implement the Paris Agreement and prepares for COP30, Vietnam and Switzerland have agreed to develop a roadmap for cooperation on carbon credit mechanisms. A meeting between Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh and Mr. Aldo de Luca, Deputy Head of Mission, Counsellor of the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam, on August 7 in Ha Noi marked a new step forward, opening opportunities for both sides to move toward formal negotiations as early as September.

With tens of thousands of products rated three stars or higher across the country, the “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) program has increasingly affirmed its role in rural economic development since its inception. Beyond improving local incomes, OCOP has opened new directions for regional specialties, traditional craft villages, and community-based tourism. However, the program continues to face challenges related to production scale, quality standards, and international market access.

On July 24, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung received Mr. Wang Xiangang, Deputy Secretary of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province (China). The meeting came at a time when agricultural and environmental cooperation between Viet Nam and China is entering a new stage, aligned with sustainable development goals and the green trade agenda in the region.

On July 22, 2025, the Agriculture and Environment Magazine under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hosted a scientific workshop titled “Circular economy model: Benefits for businesses and the environment” at the National Convention Center in Hanoi. The workshop gathered nearly 200 participants, including officials from ministries and agencies, policymakers, environmental experts, scientists, business leaders, OCOP enterprises, financial institutions, industry associations, and media representatives.

On July 10 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung received and held talks with a delegation from Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce led by Deputy Minister Nasir Hamid. This marked the first bilateral visit in the field of agricultural trade, signaling an important step forward and opening new opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

On July 9 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung received a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), led by Professor Takuro Shinano, to discuss a project on transforming cassava production systems through circular farming practices and smart starch value chain management. Tay Ninh province has been selected as the pilot site, with the aim of building a sustainable cassava production model that enhances value and reduces emissions, supported by Japanese technical expertise.

On July 8, in Hanoi, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy met with Mr. Vinod Ahuja, the newly appointed Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Vietnam. The meeting set the tone for closer cooperation in the years ahead, with a focus on green, low-emission agriculture, food security, and climate change adaptation.

On 8 July, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy received Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass. The two sides discussed cooperation directions for 2025-2028, focusing on climate change adaptation, environmental protection, and sustainable development. The meeting took place as the two countries prepare to mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2026, opening new prospects for deeper and more effective cooperation.

On 8 July, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy received Ms. Aler Grubbs, Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam, and United States Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper. The meeting took place in a warm atmosphere, marking an important milestone in more than 30 years of cooperation between Vietnam and USAID. On this occasion, the Minister expressed deep appreciation for USAID’s significant contributions to agricultural development, environmental protection, and strengthening Vietnam’s resilience to climate change.

On July 7, 2025, in Hanoi, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy met with Mr. Marco Della Seta, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Vietnam. The meeting took place in the context of rapidly strengthening Vietnam-Italy relations—particularly in agricultural trade—and marked an important step toward expanding the two countries’ strategic cooperation.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Argentina’s Ministry of Economy have agreed to promote comprehensive, balanced, and sustainable cooperation in agriculture, food, and environmental protection—paving the way for a future strategic partnership between the two countries.

On June 27, 2025, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Jeon Jongsoo, Chairman of ECOEYE Group (Republic of Korea). The meeting took place as Vietnam prepares to launch a pilot phase of its carbon credit market, creating opportunities for comprehensive cooperation in environmental protection, recycling, and low-emission technologies between the two countries.

On June 27 in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Hoang Hiep held a working meeting with Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Gillian Bird. Both sides reaffirmed the strength of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, environment, and climate adaptation, with a shared commitment to advancing the implementation of the MERIT Project—a climate resilience and integrated transformation initiative for the Mekong Delta, funded by the World Bank with strategic support from Australia.

With the shared vision of advancing scientific research, policy communication, and promoting the role of women entrepreneurs in sustainable agriculture and environmental development, the International Women Entrepreneurs Development Institute (IWEDI) paid an official visit to the Agriculture and Environment Magazine on June 27. During the working session, both sides agreed on several concrete areas of cooperation and proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a long-term strategic partnership.

On June 24, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and key partners, convened a national consultation workshop on the draft Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) for the National Action Plan to transform the food system toward transparency, accountability, and sustainability by 2030. The event was held under the technical support framework of the United Nations SDG Joint Fund, and served as a key preparatory milestone for Viet Nam’s participation in the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) scheduled for July 2025 in Ethiopia.