Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and South Korea have agreed to strengthen practical and sustainable cooperation in agricultural trade, focusing on market access, the removal of technical barriers, and a plan to establish a joint working group to support businesses from both countries. The agreement was reached on January 16 during talks between Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang and South Korean Ambassador to Viet Nam Choi Youngsam. The proposed working group would facilitate investment, business linkages and deeper participation in bilateral agricultural value chains.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Hoang Trung on January 15 met with a delegation from CropLife Viet Nam to discuss cooperation on pesticide management and the application of science and technology to support sustainable agriculture.

By strengthening linkages across production, processing and trade, while leveraging U.S. strengths in supply chain development and feed inputs, the “U.S.–Viet Nam aquaculture value chain partnership” is expected to bring a fundamental shift to Viet Nam’s tilapia sector. The project aims to position tilapia as a new export pillar, raise farmers’ incomes, increase value added in the fisheries sector, and reinforce Viet Nam–U.S. agricultural cooperation on a more substantive and sustainable footing.

On January 12, during a working session between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and a delegation from Son La province led by Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Cong, compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for Son La’s coffee-growing areas was identified as an urgent issue.

The ISG Plenary Conference, co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), reaffirmed the strong commitment of international partners to Viet Nam’s agri-food system. The conference also identified opportunities for technical cooperation and appropriate financial support to help transform Viet Nam’s food systems toward greener, lower-emission and more sustainable development through cooperation and innovation.

The technical discussion session held on the morning of January 9, as part of the ISG 2025 Conference themed “Advancing a green, low-emission and sustainable food systems transition: Cooperation and innovation,” focused on reviewing implementation progress and clarifying key pillars of Viet Nam’s National Action Plan for a transparent, responsible and sustainable food systems transformation (FST-NAP) through 2030. Through policy updates, FAO’s technical support orientations and in-depth group discussions, the session identified critical bottlenecks and priority actions aimed at translating strategic commitments into tangible outcomes on the ground.

Viet Nam and Canada have agreed to strengthen practical cooperation in environment, clean energy, natural resource management, trade and investment, aiming toward green, low-emissions growth and sustainable development. The two sides described this cooperation as a long-term foundation for deepening bilateral relations amid global climate change and economic transformation.

Viet Nam and the United States have agreed to strengthen cooperation in developing and implementing the “Trade in Agriculture and Food Safety Expanded” (TAFSE) project under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food for Progress Program.

Reviewing the performance of the agriculture and environment sector in 2025 and the 2021–2025 period, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the Ministry’s growing role in integrating agricultural development with natural resource governance and environmental protection, contributing to Viet Nam’s socio-economic growth and international commitments.

Amid mounting environmental challenges across the region, Viet Nam continues to uphold its role as the national focal point and coordinator in ASEAN environmental cooperation, participating fully and responsibly in regional mechanisms and cooperation programs. At the same time, practical implementation has underscored the need to renew participation approaches, moving toward greater proactiveness and closer alignment with national policy priorities.

After one year of implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has completed a large volume of tasks related to science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation, with no overdue assignments. At a review conference held on December 23, participants assessed initial results while highlighting key challenges and priorities for the next phase, as the focus shifts from task completion to generating tangible impacts for governance, production, and livelihoods.

In 2025, international cooperation across Viet Nam’s agriculture and environment sector was carried out with unprecedented intensity and an increasing emphasis on substance. From policy advisory on international integration to market access negotiations and the resolution of trade barriers, the year’s results demonstrate that international integration is no longer confined to expanding external relations, but is gradually emerging as a key lever for mobilizing resources and opening new pathways for sustainable development across agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and environmental management.

At a year-end review of the Department of Science and Technology on December 22, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien highlighted science and technology as the key drivers shaping the future of Vietnam’s agriculture and environment sector.

During a working session with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Viet Nam, James Nickel, on December 17, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang affirmed that the two sides will continue to expand agricultural trade cooperation, while strengthening joint efforts toward sustainable development and effective climate change response.

As plastic pollution increasingly emerges as a development challenge, Viet Nam is facing an urgent need to mobilize and effectively utilize resources to support the transition toward a circular plastics economy. At the 7th Implementation Working Group Workshop of the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Viet Nam, held on December 16, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, together with development partners, announced the Financial Roadmap for Plastic Action toward 2030. The roadmap estimates investment needs of USD 7.5–8.5 billion, while underscoring the role of multi-stakeholder cooperation in linking policy, finance, and practical implementation solutions.

As the Viet Nam–United Kingdom Comprehensive Partnership continues to be strengthened, cooperation in climate change response, green transition, and sustainable development has been identified by both sides as a key priority, contributing to the shared goals of Net-Zero emissions and sustainable growth.

At a working session with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Switzerland to Viet Nam on December 15, the Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang expressed appreciation for the Swiss Government’s proposal on cooperation in carbon credit exchange under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. He emphasized that international carbon credit exchange would support countries in fulfilling their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) while working toward the shared goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.