Vietnam assures Philippines of long-term rice supply amid pandemic

Workers carry sacks of rice inside a National Food Authority warehouse in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, the Philippines, on March 26, 2020. The Philippines plans to buy rice from Vietnam under a government-to-government deal to help boost supply during the lean months. The plan comes as Vietnam ordered a halt to rice exports to ensure food security during the Covid-19 outbreak. - Bloomberg

MANILA (Xinhua): Vietnam has reassured the Philippines of its commitment to resume rice exports to the Philippines amid Covid-19 pandemic, the office of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday (May 27).

According to a statement, Duterte spoke with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc via phone on Tuesday night to discuss bilateral and regional cooperation against the global pandemic.