The China-Canada Agriculture and Fisheries Business Cooperation Forum was successfully held in Ottawa, Canada on October 17, 2018.
The Forum was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FOC). Minister Han Changfu, AAFC Minister Lawrence MacAulay and FOC Parliamentary Secretary Sean Casey attended and addressed the opening ceremony.
Minister Han Changfu stated that China-Canada agricultural cooperation has stood the test of time and has become even stronger than ever before. Over the past nearly four decades since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China and Canada have been enjoying improved mechanisms, expanded areas, enriched activities and significant achievements in the bilateral agricultural cooperation. Effectively steered by the Joint Commission on Agriculture, China-Canada agricultural cooperation has made fruitful results in agricultural S&T, livestock, agricultural products quality and safety (APQS) and sustainable agriculture. China has become Canada’s second export destination in agricultural products and imported US $7.76 billion worth of agricultural products from Canada in 2017.
Minister Han Changfu stressed that China and Canada are highly complementary in the bilateral agricultural cooperation and thus enjoy broad prospects. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, rural revitalization strategy and agricultural supply-side structural reform are bringing China-Canada agricultural cooperation unprecedented opportunities. Minister Han Changfu also proposed that the two countries improve bilateral agricultural cooperation mechanisms, create platforms for agricultural trade and investment cooperation and foster new areas to drive agricultural development in China and Canada.
Up to 110 participants from 54 Chinese or Canadian enterprises attended the Forum and discussed issues on S&T in agriculture and fisheries, investment as well as trade cooperation, leading to five cooperation agreements.
After the Forum, Minister Han Changfu held bilateral talks with Mr. MacAulay and FOC Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, respectively. During his stay in Canada, Minister Han Changfu visited AAFC Research and Development Centre in Ottawa, research center for Prograin and a local beef farm.
Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China