Source: VOVNEWS

ASEAN countries consider rural development and poverty reduction a key issue toward building a sound social welfare system to improve local people’s living conditions.

The Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Dang Khoa emphasized this at an ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Danang City on June 13.

Despite recent significant achievements in rural development and poverty reduction, Khoa said the region is facing a number of challenges due to the negative impact of global economic downturn, climate change, natural disasters and epidemics, which are threatening ASEAN socio-economic development, especially in agriculture and rural development.

He called on ASEAN members countries to further strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences to work out proper and creative measures appropriate with each country’s condition.

During the two-day event, representatives from ASEAN countries will meet with senior ASEAN officials and attend an ASEAN forum with governmental and non-governmental organizations on rural development and poverty reduction./.