Vice Minister Zhang Taolin met with Mr. Mikhail Shchetinin, Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management of the Russian Federation, in Beijing on 1 August 2017. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral agricultural cooperation.

Vice Minister Zhang stated that China and Russia have distinctive features in agriculture and enjoy high complementarities and broad prospects for cooperation in this sector. Under the guidance of the Agricultural Cooperation Subcommittee of the Committee of China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting, the two sides have in recent years discussed cooperation in animal health, plant disease control, agricultural investment and trade, and reached extensive consensus, laying a solid foundation for further agricultural cooperation.  China is willing to work with Russia to innovate cooperation modes to lift the bilateral agricultural cooperation to a new high.

Mr. M. Shchetinin spoke highly of the achievements in bilateral agricultural cooperation and fully agreed with Vice Minister Zhang. Mr. M. Shchetinin noted that Russia is endowed with favorable natural conditions for agricultural development and is well known for its high-quality agricultural products, hence the two countries enjoy broad prospects for agricultural cooperation. He looks forward to working with China to promote bilateral agricultural cooperation for greater progress.