(VOVworld) - The 7th General Assembly of the Asian Farmers’ Association (AFA) for Sustainable Rural Development opened in Hanoi on Friday.

Delegates to the AFA’s General Assembly in Hanoi. (Photo: hoinongdan.org.vn)

The event acts as a knowledge exchange forum on farmers’ organizations engagements in public agri-investment programs to help eradicate poverty and hunger by 2030.

The congress discussed and put forward solutions to boost sustainable agricultural development and the rural areas of each Asian nation as well as admitting new members including the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, India’s Self-Employed Female Farmers’ Association, Tajikistan’s Farmers’ Association, and the Lao Farmer Network.

The President of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, Lai Xuan Mon, said the union has worked closely with AFA members to achieve common goals in sustainable agricultural and rural development and the protection of farmers’ rights and interests.

Mon said Vietnam officially became a member of AFA this year after acting as an observer for 14 years, and that membership will provide Vietnam many new opportunities for the development of its agriculture and farmers.

He pledged the Vietnam Farmers’ Union will strictly implement its commitments and duties as an AFA member and do the utmost to realize the core target set by the AFA.