(VOVworld) – Discussion topics at the 12^th National Party Congress included ways to increase agricultural competitiveness for international integration. Delegates said specific measures are needed to realize new international commitments in order to reduce risks and create opportunities for the agricultural sector.

Many delegates agreed with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh’s report that preparations for domestic production to conform to international commitments have been slow. They agreed that Vietnam should be more proactive in production, technology, and market issues to fully implement WTO commitments and commitments of new generation free trade agreements over the next 5 years. They said that although agriculture is Vietnam’s strength the sector is facing many challenges in the context of integration. Pham Minh Dao, a delegate from Dong Nai province, said: “Increasing productivity, product quality, and scale of production is essential during integration. We should encourage links between farmers and businesses in production and sales and investments in agriculture and rural development.”

Delegate Nguyen Van Cong of Dong Thap province said that despite Vietnam’s recent reforms in agricultural production toward international integration more investment policies are needed with a focus on applied science and technology: “I hope that the Party Central Committee will devise policies to encourage large-scale production and scientific and technological application. This will facilitate business investment in agriculture and rural development. We should have plans to develop agricultural cooperatives to increase productivity.”

Delegates said there should be specific strategies for each region to create local specialties for export.