Vice Minister Qu Dongyu met with Mr. Bernard Lehmann, Director of the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) of Switzerland, in Beijing on the morning of 18 August 2017. The two sides exchanged views on enhancing bilateral agricultural cooperation.

Vice Minister Qu extended a warm welcome to Mr. Lehmann. He noted that Switzerland is well developed in organic agriculture and its management experience and production technologies are quite worth learning. The growth of China’s economy will generate steady increase of demand for high-end agricultural produces in the domestic market, providing broad prospects for bilateral cooperation in organic agriculture. Mr. Lehmann fully agreed with Vice Minister Qu and suggested that the two sides facilitate policy, research and trade cooperation in sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture and geographical indication (GI).

Vice Minister Qu said that China is willing to strengthen GI cooperation with the Swiss side. He proposed that both sides jointly launch pilot programs and for example, carry out GI agro-product exchange activities in Chinese locations that share similar climate andgeographic conditions with Switzerland. He also invited the Swiss side to the 15^th China Agricultural Trade Fair to showcase its premium agricultural produces to Chinese consumers. Mr. Lehmann said he would take into consideration the invitation.

The two sides also had discussions on bilateral agricultural trade and WTO negotiations, among others.