As Viet Nam’s agricultural sector faces mounting pressure to restructure in line with environmental protection and climate adaptation, cooperation with leading regional education and research institutions is increasingly viewed as a strategic priority. This direction was highlighted at a meeting on February 2 between leaders of Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and China Agricultural University (CAU).
Restructuring pressures reshape Viet Nam’s agricultural and rural development agenda
At the meeting with President of China Agricultural University Sun Qixin, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam said Viet Nam’s agricultural sector is confronting multiple, interlinked challenges amid rapid socio-economic development.
Agricultural land is under increasing pressure from industrialization and urbanization, while demands are rising to improve product quality and value added in response to changing export markets. At the same time, climate change and environmental degradation remain long-term constraints on agricultural production, he said.
Over the past 15 years, Viet Nam has implemented the National Target Program on New Rural Development, focusing on infrastructure development, rural economic growth and improvements in living standards. As the program enters a new phase, however, the emphasis is shifting beyond physical infrastructure toward building modern, efficient and sustainable rural areas, in which knowledge, science and technology, and the quality of human resources play a central role.
Against this backdrop, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam said strengthening international cooperation—particularly with countries that have extensive experience in agricultural modernization and rural development, such as China—has become an important solution for Viet Nam.
Human resource development and joint research move to the forefront of cooperation
Representatives of China Agricultural University expressed their desire to expand cooperation with Viet Nam in a more substantive and in-depth manner, with a focus on training high-quality agricultural human resources and strengthening joint scientific research.
As a leading research institution supporting China’s rural revitalization strategy, CAU said its experience, development models and policy approaches could be shared and adapted to suit Viet Nam’s conditions.
The two sides agreed to promote doctoral training programs and expand exchanges of lecturers, experts and students, while working toward mutual recognition of academic qualifications between Vietnamese and Chinese educational institutions. CAU also said it was ready to receive Vietnamese students for summer courses and academic exchange programs, and to provide broader study and research opportunities for graduates of Viet Nam’s agricultural universities.
Alongside training, scientific research and technological development were identified as key pillars of cooperation. The two sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in areas including digital agriculture, smart agriculture, the application of advanced production technologies, as well as policy research and models for modern rural development.
Academic collaboration expands toward rural and agricultural policy consultation
Beyond education and research cooperation, China Agricultural University also expressed interest in expanding field surveys and policy research activities in Viet Nam. By gaining a deeper understanding of Viet Nam’s agricultural and rural development practices, Chinese experts and researchers could contribute policy recommendations to support Viet Nam’s policymaking and implementation processes.
Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam welcomed this approach, affirming Viet Nam’s willingness to share experience and enhance two-way exchanges to ensure cooperation delivers tangible benefits for both sides. As agriculture in both Viet Nam and China shifts toward development models that emphasize quality, value and sustainability, closer linkages between training, research and policy formulation are expected to generate concrete and long-term outcomes, he said.
On October 4, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Do Duc Duy held a working meeting with H.E. Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to Vietnam. Both sides agreed to further promote their strategic partnership, focusing on key areas such as climate change, waste management, and the development of a circular economy. The aim is to address Vietnam's pressing priorities in the near future.
On October 2, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the fifth meeting of the National Steering Committee on the implementation of Vietnam’s COP26 commitments, emphasizing the need for faster and more decisive action in tackling climate change. The Prime Minister’s call comes as Vietnam continues to face increasingly severe weather conditions, highlighting the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and adhering to global pledges.
Minister Do Duc Duy and Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, agreed on shared views, common goals, and the highest determination to implement the joint commitments on climate change and environmental protection.
Building on the highly effective cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom in the field of natural resources and environment in recent years, Minister Do Duc Duy and Ambassador Iain Frew agreed that more programs and projects should be implemented in the coming years.
Minister Do Duc Duy emphasized that the Government of Vietnam warmly welcomes foreign enterprises such as EREX to invest in new technology projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating carbon credits in Vietnam.
