Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh receiving Ms. Pippa Hackett, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity in Ireland

Strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and the environment

At the beginning of the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh expressed his pleasure at welcoming Ms. Hackett and her delegation, just one week after the official visit of General Secretary and President To Lam to Ireland. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the relationship between the two countries is developing strongly, especially in areas overseen by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, such as climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

On behalf of the Irish delegation, Minister of State Pippa Hackett expressed her sympathy with Vietnam following the recent Super Typhoon Yagi. Prior to the meeting, the Irish Embassy had announced a grant of 250,000 euros to support UNICEF’s efforts in providing clean water and sanitation supplies to ensure the health of children and vulnerable families affected by the disaster in northern Vietnam.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh also appreciated Ireland's support for Vietnam, particularly in collaborative efforts to address environmental and sustainable agriculture issues

During the exchange, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh also appreciated Ireland’s support for Vietnam, especially in cooperative activities addressing environmental issues and sustainable agriculture. He noted that 60% of Vietnam’s population currently lives in rural areas, and agriculture not only provides food for the country but also plays a major role in the country's exports. However, Vietnam faces many challenges due to climate change, particularly in agricultural production, but this also opens up opportunities for sustainable, low-waste agricultural development.

Cooperation in food waste management and the circular economy

A key highlight of the meeting was the project "Assessment of food waste status and proposal of solutions toward a circular economy in Hanoi," jointly implemented by the Vietnam Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment and the Irish Embassy. The project aims to assess food waste generation from retailers, catering services, and households in Hanoi, with the aim of proposing solutions for reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. With a total funding of over 63,000 Euros from the Irish Embassy, this project demonstrates both countries' commitment to promoting sustainable solutions toward a circular economy.

Ms. Pippa Hackett also expressed particular interest in this project, emphasizing that both Ireland and Vietnam are agricultural countries and share similar challenges related to climate change. She also spoke about her personal role in protecting biodiversity and water resources in Ireland and expressed a strong desire for closer cooperation with Vietnam in these areas.

Toward low-emission agriculture and carbon markets

Discussing future cooperation opportunities, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh reaffirmed Vietnam’s international commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. He noted that Vietnam is currently implementing plans to realize this goal across various sectors, including agriculture, with a project to cultivate 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice. This project not only aims to reduce methane emissions but also serves as a model for sustainable agricultural production.

Additionally, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh shared information about policies related to forest protection and carbon credits that Vietnam is implementing, with the goal of launching a pilot carbon market by 2025. He expressed hope that Ireland, with its experience in sustainable agriculture development, would continue to collaborate and share its expertise with Vietnam in this field.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh taking photo with the Irish delegation

Ms. Pippa Hackett noted that although Ireland has not yet officially launched carbon trading, the country is researching and preparing the necessary frameworks. She also shared that Ireland is particularly interested in forest development and environmental protection and is ready to continue discussions with Vietnam on these issues.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides expressed their desire to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly in sustainable agricultural development and environmental protection. Ms. Hackett emphasized that her visit marks an important step in strengthening cooperation between Ireland and Vietnam, opening up new opportunities for both countries in the future.

Ngoc Huyen