ASEAN +3 signs MoU on food, agriculture and forestry

Agriculture and forestry ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) +3, which includes 10 member states plus the three nations of the People’s Republic of China, Japan and the Republic of South Korea, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday. The MoU reaffirmed the signatories’ support for advancing cooperation in the food, agriculture and forestry sectors across the region.

By signing the MoU, ministers welcomed the development of the ASEAN +3 Cooperation Strategy (APTCS), which consists of six strategic areas, namely strengthening food security, biomass energy development, sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, animal health and disease control and finally, cross-cutting issues.

The agreement was signed in Indonesia during the 33rd meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF). At the meeting, Thailand was appointed to host the secretariat of AMAF. (msa)