Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Min Naung, currently in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the People’s Republic of China to attend the Conference on Import and Export Food Safety Cooperation of the BRI countries (Belt and Road Initiative), attended the opening ceremony of the 7th ASEAN-China Agricultural Cooperation Forum on 16 September.
The forum was jointly held by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
In his opening speech, the Union minister said that it is a good time for the forum that bring good intentions as it will focus on the prioritized agricultural sectors between the ASEAN and China depending on the challenges and chances after the COVID-19 period. The ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF) to address COVID-19 was adopted at the 37th ASEAN Summit. Of the five broad strategies mentioned in the framework, it should emphasize the two strategies such as Maximizing the Potential of the Intra-ASEAN Market and Broader Economic Integration and Accelerating Inclusive Digital Transformation. Being a great trade partner country of the ASEAN countries as well as a key partner of Myanmar, China should cooperate closely in promoting the regional food security value chains with the member countries.
He also had a discussion with Chinese MARA Minister Tang Renjian regarding the strengthening bilateral relations in agricultural sectors, agricultural science research, exchange of seedlings and genes and establishment of models of tropical crop fields.
Moreover, they focused on capacity-building training for Myanmar laboratory experts, study tours to construct saltwater prevention dykes and sluice gates in delta regions, maintenance training of agricultural gears, and technological assistance for saltwater and freshwater farming.
The Union minister also expressed the willingness to establish a modern fishery industry, upgrade the transboundary animal disease control under South-South Cooperation (SSC) and invited Chinese companies to make investments in the production of corn silage in Myanmar.
The Union minister, who attended the 20th China-ASEAN Expo, 20th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, 7th ASEAN-China Agricultural Cooperation Forum, Conference on Import and Export Food Safety Cooperation of the BRI countries, 7th China-ASEAN Summit for Drug Development and Cooperation held in Nanning from 17 to 19 September, made a study tour to the Centre for infectious Disease Prevention and Control in Jiangsu and arrived back in Myanmar yesterday afternoon. — MNA/KTZH
