China and CELAC join forces for agricultural cooperation boost

To jointly address global climate change and food security crises, China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States have pledged to expand their agricultural cooperation, according to speakers at the third China-CELAC Ministerial Forum on Agriculture, which kicked off on Tuesday in Weifang, Shandong province.

The two-day forum brought together 290 people from 25 countries, including officials from agricultural departments, ambassadors and representatives from agricultural research institutions and enterprises.

Speakers said China and CELAC countries complement each other in agriculture due to their distinctive features in agricultural product demands, resource allocation, capital market and technological regulation.

China has established bilateral agricultural cooperation mechanisms with 19 CELAC countries, bringing more high-quality agricultural products to Chinese families, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

In 2023, the trade volume of agricultural products between China and CELAC countries reached over $81 billion, accounting for nearly one-fourth of China's total agricultural trade volume, doubling from 2014.

Ángel Manero Campos, Minister for Agricultural Development and Irrigation of Peru, said at the forum that more products from Peru will reach the Chinese market in a shorter time and fresher condition after the Chancay Port in Peru goes into service in November this year.

He said China is increasingly emphasizing environmentally friendly and low-carbon agricultural production methods.

Ahead of the forum's opening ceremony, attendees visited agricultural sites in Weifang. The city's comprehensive pilot zone for agriculture opening up and development, approved by the State Council, boasts strength in agricultural machinery, seed cultivation, agricultural product processing and rural area management and development.

"Weifang will deepen economic and trade cooperation with CELAC countries to build the city into a new hub for agricultural cooperation, a highland for trade and investment, and a window for exchanges and mutual learning," said Liu Yun, the city's Party secretary.

At the forum, China and 26 CELAC countries reached a consensus on agricultural priority areas and set a course for them in the following five years.

Apart from bolstering existing cooperation in animal and crop production techniques, agricultural technology, animal husbandry and veterinary services, agricultural processing and mechanization, the two parties will explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, rural revitalization and other emerging sectors, according to the course.

Over the next five years, China plans to establish at least three agricultural demonstration farms in CELAC countries.