'K-Food Plus' Export Diplomacy on APEC Stage... Song Miryung Calls for Expanded Agri-food Trade and Cooperation

On August 10, Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, met consecutively with Tran Duc Thang, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, and Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, who visited Korea on the occasion of the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Incheon. During these meetings, they discussed current issues and interests regarding each country's agricultural policies, and Song requested cooperation to expand exports of Korean agricultural and food products.

Tran Duc Thang, Acting Minister of Vietnam, expressed his gratitude for Korea's continued Official Development Assistance (ODA) support and cooperation, and stated his hope that Korean companies would expand their investments in the fields of agriculture and rural development. He also proposed holding events to promote exchanges between agricultural and food export companies from both countries.

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (right), is shaking hands with Tran Duc Thang, Acting Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, who visited Korea on the occasion of the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Incheon on the 10th. Photo by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

In response, Minister Song emphasized that Vietnam is a key trading partner and ODA partner for Korea in the agricultural and food sector. She requested Vietnam's cooperation to facilitate the export of Korean chicken and fruits (such as kiwifruit and mandarin oranges) to Vietnam. She also asked for the active cooperation of the Vietnamese government to ensure that ongoing ODA projects proceed smoothly without setbacks.

Minister Sabu of Malaysia highlighted the importance of cooperation in the agricultural sector between the two countries. He proposed strengthening collaboration in agriculture and food security, as well as expanding cooperation between quarantine authorities. Minister Song noted that trade in agricultural and food products between Korea and Malaysia is becoming increasingly active, and requested Malaysia's cooperation to facilitate the export of halal-certified Korean chilled beef to Malaysia.

Minister Song stated, "Vietnam is Korea's fourth-largest export market for agricultural and food products, making it highly significant, while Malaysia is a leading country in the halal food industry and, with its high population growth rate in Southeast Asia, represents a market with strong future growth potential. I hope that these meetings will further expand mutual trade and cooperation in the agricultural and food sectors."

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is speaking at the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Incheon on the 10th. Photo by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

At the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting held earlier that morning, a ministerial declaration was adopted. This declaration is the result of seven months of discussions, and the member economies agreed to jointly respond to threats to food security and introduce innovative technologies throughout the entire process of production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural and food products, while also working to bridge the digital divide. During the meeting, Minister Song stated, "Complex crises such as the climate crisis, regional conflicts, and supply chain shocks are threatening the resilience and sustainability of agri-food systems. Now, we must go beyond existing approaches and accelerate a transformative approach across entire agri-food systems."