HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội City and Japan’s Fukuoka prefecture exchanged experiences in agricultural development at an agricultural co-operation promotion workshop today in the capital city.

The event is part of activities celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Việt Nam and Japan as well as the 10^th anniversary of friendly relations between Ha Nội and Fukuoka.

The workshop aims to introduce Fukuoka’s policies and experience in agricultural development to local traders and manufacturers of agricultural products in Hà Nội. It will also provide authorities in the city and its agricultural companies opportunities to boost co-operation in the agricultural field, especially in high-tech agriculture.

Speaking at the event, Hà Nội People’s Committee Permanent Vice Chairman Nguyễn Văn Sửu highlighted the comprehensive co-operation between Hà Nội and Fukuoka in environment, education and training, culture, and investment which have existed since the establishment of cooperative and friendly relations in 2008.

“The friendship co-operation agreement that was signed on June 27 between Hà Nội and Fukuoka will be an important foundation for the two sides’ businesses to share their experiences and promote cooperation towards a modern, high quality, and sustainable agricultural sector,” Sửu said.

“Hà Nội wants Fukuoka prefecture to share its experiences, promote potential co-operation, and transfer technologies in agricultural development with an aim to build a firm foundation for the development of agricultural development between the two cities,” he said.

Fukuoka Governor Hiroshi Ogawa said the prefecture is famous for its potential in robotics, electrical and semiconductor production, and especially high-tech agriculture.

“We hope that our techniques on growing safe fruits and vegetables or high techniques to increase productivity and reduce reliance on human labour would contribute to agricultural development in Hà Nội and in Việt Nam as well,” Ogawa said.

Hà Nội Agriculture and Rural Development Director Tạ Văn Tường said agricultural production has met just more than 50 per cent of demand from residents in Hà Nội.

Tường said the city aims to boost co-operation in terms of the varieties of plants, animal breeds, processing and production of agricultural products. Application and transference of high-tech agriculture, as well as human resource training and cooperation in producing and exporting some agricultural products to the Japanese market would also be on the list.

With total committed amount of over US$2 billion, Japan is currently the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) for Hà Nội. Japan is also the biggest foreign investor in the capital city, with a registered capital of more than $5 billion, while Fukuoka is its third largest trade partner. — VNS