Zhang Taolin, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, met with the UAE delegation headed by Thani Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment on Dec. 18 in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on agricultural cooperation between China and the UAE. 

Vice Minister Zhang said agricultural cooperation has become the most dynamic aspect of bilateral relations since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UAE, thanks to the joint effort. The two ministries have signed a memorandum of understanding and established a joint committee mechanism for agriculture and remarkable results have been made in cooperation of agricultural science and technology, investment and trade. Zhang suggested the two sides pragmatically cooperate with each other through the joint committee mechanism for agriculture in order to jointly promote key investment projects and further enhance the level of cooperation. Zhang said the Chinese side is willing to deepen cooperation with the UAE in areas such as water-saving irrigation, soil improvement and breeding technology. 

Al-Zeyoudi agreed with Zhang’s suggestions. He said the UAE is willing to learn from China’s experience in agricultural and rural development as well as study its advanced technologies so as to find solutions to the drought and food security problems facing his country. He said huge potential exists for agricultural cooperation between China and the UAE. He said that his country is ready to work with China to promote two countries’ agricultural cooperation and achieve even greater results.   

(Photo by Li Mo, MARA Website)