Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man addresses the Francophone Parliamentary Forum on sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate change response in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, January 21, 2025. Photo: VGP

The top legislator called upon parliaments of French-speaking countries to strengthen cooperation, develop sustainable agriculture, secure livelihoods for each household, and ensure food security for every nation, while addressing global climate change.

Tran highlighted Viet Nam's achievements after nearly 40 years of "Doi Moi" (renewal), with notable progress in poverty alleviation and effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In 2024, Viet Nam recorded GDP growth rate of 7.09 percent, increasing the size of the economy to approximately US$476 billion, keeping inflation rate of under 4 percent, and raising import-export turnover to US$786 billion.

Agriculture has been a key pillar of Viet Nam's economy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture supported the economy, ensuring food security domestically while also contributing to global food supplies. Agro-forestry-aquatic exports reached a record high of over 9 million tons of rice worth around US$5.7 billion last year.

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) Hilarion Etong praised the efforts by the APF's Viet Nam sub-committee in hosting the forum.

He expected that the forum will mark the beginning of a new era in Francophone cooperation, with a shared commitment to resolving challenges of food security, climate change, and sustainable agricultural development.

IOF Administrator Caroline St-Hilaire stressed that sustainable agriculture, food security, and climate change response are urgent global issues that are of paramount concern to the Francophone community and its member countries, urging the parliaments of member countries to use available tools to generate more practical solutions.

Following the opening session, the forum held three panel discussions on Francophone cooperation in sustainable agriculture, the Francophone community and food security, and experiences on climate change response./.