U.S. Supports Vietnam’s African Swine Fever Fight: Economic Counselor

U.S. agencies, including the embassy in Vietnam and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), have shared experiences and assisted Vietnam in the fight against the African swine fever, U.S. Embassy Economic Counselor Robert Gabor said. He made the statement at a meeting in Hanoi on July 31 with Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien. Mr. Gabor specified that the U.S. ambassador has directed the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam to take actions to support Vietnam while the APHIS has shared experiences with Vietnam in downsizing the pig herd and sterilizing the environment at disease-affected areas. The U.S. side will also provide the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Department of Animal Health with equipment and machine to respond to the epidemic, and work with the department in analyzing and evaluating the risks of disease spreading, Mr. Gabor noted. He elaborated that the U.S. side will also hold a conference to raise Vietnamese officials’ capability of fighting the epidemic. Deputy Minister Tien, in reply, spoke highly of the United States’ support for Vietnam, especially in responding to bird flu. Regarding African swine fever, Mr. Tien expected that Vietnam will be able to control the epidemic with assistance from countries including the United States. The two officials also reviewed past cooperation in the agricultural sector. Last year, the United States’ agro exports accounted for 45% of the country’s $10 billion exports to Vietnam, Mr. Gabor said. Mr. Tien also affirmed that Vietnam always facilitates U.S. farm produce to enter the market. (Bo Nong Nghiep & Phat Trien Nong Thon, mard)