Harvesting chili in Thanh Binh district, Dong Thap province (Photo: Duy Khuong)

(VOV) – Vietnam hopes Israel will support the business communities of the two countries in increasing agricultural cooperation, especially in agricultural technology transfer. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat made the proposal while holding talks with his Israeli counterpart Orit Noked and Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Shalom Simhon and other Israeli officials in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. During the two-day talks, Israeli officials highly appreciated Phat’s visit, taking place when the two countries have taken new steps towards developing their relationship further following the visit to Vietnam by President Shimon Perez last November. They confirmed that the Israeli government wants to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in all areas, particularly trade, agriculture, science and technology, education and training. Phat proposed that the Israeli government increase the number of students and expand training programs for Vietnamese students at its agriculture research institutes.