(VOVworld) – Vietnam has launched a national plan of action in response to the UN’s Zero Hunger Challenge.

At the launch ceremony in Hanoi on Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the right to food is a basic human right and that despite major achievements in global food production, food and nutrition insecurity and poverty still remain a challenge. In this context, the Vietnamese government praised and welcomed the Zero Hunger Challenge initiated by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with this ultimate goal: everyone with enough food. Prime Minister Dung said that Vietnam is restructuring its agriculture and building new rural areas to improve national competitiveness and deal with the impacts of climate change: “Vietnam is committed to supporting the UN in implementing sustainable growth targets. Vietnam’s participation in the No Hunger Challenge gives evidence of its responsibility in responding to UN activities and meets its practical needs.”

Mr. Dung said Vietnam is ready to share its experience in poverty reduction and agricultural development with other developing nations and values the practical support provided by UN agencies and international organizations. UN Vietnam Resident Coordinator and Chief Representative of the UNDP in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the last 30 years, including its implementation of UN Millennium Development Goals.

She said that UN agencies will continue to support Vietnam’s implementation of the Zero Hunger Challenge and its efforts to achieve sustainable growth.