The National Conference on International Cooperation of Agriculture was held in Beijing between October 29-30. Participants learnt and studied in depth the General Secretary Xi Jinping’s thoughts on foreign affairs’ work and his important analyses on agriculture, rural areas and farmers. They also reviewed China’s international cooperation of agriculture since the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, analyzed and studied the current situation, clarified work requirements, and made arrangements of future cooperation for the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Han Changfu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, required all persons engaged in international cooperation of agricultural system in the country to raise their level of political awareness in order to carry out all round opening up in agriculture and make greater contribution to the overall foreign affairs situation and agricultural modernization. Zhang Taolin, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Areas, attended the conference and delivered a speech. 

The conference stated that since the period of the 13th Five-Year Plan, international cooperation of agriculture with the focus on the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, the establishment of new mechanisms of overseas cooperation of agriculture, and the expansion of the influence of food and agricultural governance, has carried out fruitful work and served the country’s overall political and foreign affairs situation, which benefited the general economic and social situation, and promoted the development of agriculture and rural areas. 

The conference stressed that all personnel in the system of international cooperation of agriculture should be fully aware of the current situation and new requirements of international cooperation of agriculture. They must clearly understand the overall situation, be confident, take the initiative action, seize opportunities, and meet all the challenges. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, international cooperation of agriculture should implement the strategy of rural revitalization and important attention be given to ensuring the supply of critical agricultural products. Belt and Road agricultural trade as well as scientific and technological cooperation should also be strengthened. In addition, multilateral, bilateral and regional cooperation mechanisms should be further improved so as to build a favorable environment for the promotion of all-round agricultural opening-up. All people in the system of agricultural cooperation should enhance their own capability, continuously improve their ability to conduct international cooperation in the new era, and strive to break new ground in the development of agriculture and rural areas.