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Ministers seek joint efforts in agriculture
By Cao Desheng (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-24 10:18
Agricultural ministers from 20 Asian countries gathered in Beijing Sunday to
seek partnerships in the sector.
Priorities for agricultural partnerships between Asian countries in the
coming years will be given to development policy, practical technology,
sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation, according to a joint
initiative of the Asia Co-operation Dialogue (ACD) Workshop for Agricultural
Ministers.
Co-operation can be carried out in various ways including agro-technical
training courses, workshops, exhibition and fairs for agricultural products,
trade talks, bilateral and multilateral study tours and agricultural investment,
according to the joint initiative.
ACD is a regional partnership mechanism. Since Thailand put forward the
concept of ACD in 2001, Asian countries have kept making efforts to integrate
existing sub-regional collaborations and promote the establishment of the
framework for co-operation for Asian countries.
Consideration should be given to both the current interests of individual
nations and the long-term interests of Asia as a whole, Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu
said at the opening ceremony of the workshop.
"China is willing to promote dialogues with ACD members and step up overall
partnerships with them, and share experiences and achievements in agricultural
sectors," Hui said.
On behalf of the Chinese delegation, Agriculture Vice-Minister Zhang Baowen
suggested at the workshop that joint efforts should first be made in technology
exchanges, human resources development, ecological management and plant and
animal disease control.
"Meanwhile, active efforts should be made to explore ways to strengthen
sub-regional partnership, upgrade the capability of preventing and handling
agricultural crises and make regional contingency plans so as to ensure and
improve food security and safety in Asia," Zhang said.
Saying that regional agricultural products have long suffered from price
volatility and trade barriers in the international market, Thai Minister of
Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti highlighted the
importance.
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