International agriculture, food expo opens in Changchun

The opening ceremony for the ongoing 19th Changchun International Agriculture & Food Expo was held on Aug 14 in Changchun -- capital city of Northeast China's Jilin province -- attracting the participation of provincial and municipal level officials and masses of locals, according to a local media report.

Local officials said it was the first time the expo exhibited products both online and offline. Some 38 activities were set up in the categories of brands and equipment exhibits, industry demonstrations and agri-science education, as well as an economic and trade forum.

The organizers said the expo will run 10 days.

It has the goals of publicizing the rural revitalization strategy, displaying agriculture-related high-tech achievements, building a trading platform for agricultural products, expanding safe production of food and boosting the high-quality development of agriculture.

Officials said that Jilin is a major agricultural province and an important national commodity grain production region. In recent years, Jilin has always given top priority to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and officials said it has accelerated the construction of a modern agricultural market, production and management systems and achieved solid results in agricultural modernization.

This year's expo, officials added, is expected to continue to promote the work of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, enhance trade in agricultural products and enrich the cultural life of Jilin's citizens.

They said it will better serve overall economic and social development through the new combination of online and offline exhibitions -- as well as publicity and displays, demonstrations and guidance, transaction services, economic and trade exchanges, science education, cultural benefits for the people, and sightseeing and leisure activities.