Comprehensive discussions on Agro-product trade, Market access, Agri-biotechnology, Agri-machinery, Pilot Demonstration Zone, and Seed industry cooperation
Zhang Zhili, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Maxim Markovich, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, co-chaired the 12th meeting of the China–Russia Agricultural Cooperation Subcommittee under the Committee for Regular Meetings Between the Chinese and Russian Heads of Government in Moscow on August 27.
The meeting involved in-depth discussions on various topics, including agro-product and food trade, market access, agricultural science and technology, the establishment of the China–Russia Pilot Demonstration Zone for Agricultural Cooperation, and seed industry cooperation.
Vice Minister Zhang noted that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, China and Russia have had frequent and close institutional dialogues on agriculture. Furthermore, bilateral agro-trade has steadily increased and agricultural technology exchange has become increasingly active. Zhang said that China seeks to work with Russia to tap cooperative potential in areas such as the seed industry, agricultural machinery, and biotechnology, as well as push for early establishment of the China–Russia Pilot Demonstration Zone for Agricultural Cooperation, thus making new contributions to the high-quality development of China–Russia relations.
A high level of cooperation and exchange has been achieved across all areas of agriculture, according to Deputy Minister Markovich. According to him, Russia seeks to cooperate with China to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, strengthen communication and coordination among the agricultural departments on both sides, and expand cooperation in agro-trade, investment, science and technology, and market access, thereby giving new impetus to the bilateral friendship.
In an exchange of views on how to expedite the establishment and operation of the China–Russia Pilot Demonstration Zone for Agricultural Cooperation, Vice Minister Zhang met Vitaly Altabaev, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic. According to Zhang, both countries’ leaders have reached a consensus on setting up the pilot demonstration zone. Both sides have agreed on the content of a relevant memorandum of understanding and should refine construction plans, bring together supportive policies, and attract quality companies to the zone as soon as possible.
Deputy Minister Altabaev agreed with China’s proposals and said that Russia seeks to work with China to negotiate and sign an intergovernmental cooperation agreement on the establishment of the pilot demonstration zone and support business operations and key projects through policies under the international priority development zone.
