China – ASEAN Agricultural Cooperation Seminar Convenes

January 18, 2023April 4, 2023 1 min read MARA

Share this

18 January 2023, China: The China–ASEAN Agricultural Cooperation Seminar was held in Beijing on Jan. 13. Li Jinxiang, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA), attended the seminar and delivered remarks.

Li Jinxiang pointed out that two months ago, leaders of China and ASEAN countries agreed to designate 2023 as the China–ASEAN Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation, and issued the China–ASEAN Joint Statement on Food Security Cooperation. These actions highlighted the importance that all parties attach to agricultural development, and their determination to safeguard regional food security. To implement the key consensus of leaders of both sides and deepen China–ASEAN agricultural cooperation, Li Jinxiang put forth three suggestions: 1) strengthen strategic dialogue and agricultural policy exchanges, improve agricultural trade and investment, and ensure the co-organized China–ASEAN Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation a success; 2) improve regional food security, continue to facilitate the role of the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) mechanism, and work together to build a strong and sustainable agri-food system in the region; and 3) promote green agricultural development in a pragmatic way, and effectively cope with climate change, resource constraints and other challenges.

The seminar was co-hosted by the ASEAN–China Centre and the Department of International Cooperation of MARA. It was part of the China–ASEAN Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation series. Representatives from the ASEAN–China Centre, agricultural authorities of ASEAN countries, embassies of ASEAN countries in China, and the ASEAN Secretariat, as well as Chinese experts, exchanged views on China–ASEAN agricultural development and food security.