Han Jun, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, met with a Japanese delegation led by Takamori Yoshikawa, Member of the House of Representatives and former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Koya Nishikawa, Cabinet Secretariat official and former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in Beijing on Dec. 12. Vice Minister Han exchanged his views with the Japanese guests.   

Vice Minister Han said that China welcomes quality and safe Japanese food and agricultural products to enter into the Chinese market and is willing to further strengthen cooperation in animal health. He hoped the issue of China’s concerns about access fishing could be addressed. Han suggested that scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation in smart agriculture and intelligent agricultural machinery equipments should be strengthened and agricultural cooperation be diversified on the basis of reciprocity so as to benefit the two peoples. 

Yoshikawa said the two countries have already signed an intergovernmental agreement on animal health and animal quarantine. He said the Japanese side hopes to further develop bilateral trade in animal products and expand its food and agricultural exports to China, with the aim of helping  Japan’s economic growth. 

The two sides agreed to strengthen consultation and exchange at the working and technical levels, and actively promote pragmatic agricultural cooperation between China and Japan.