ASEAN SECRETARIAT
JAKARTA
INDONESIA

NEWS RELEASE

2 NOVEMBER 2002

ASEAN AND CHINA TO STEP UP AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION

PHNOM PENH (Nov 2) – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed an agreement with China today to strengthen cooperation in agriculture.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was inked by the ASEAN Secretary-General Rodolfo Severino and China's Vice-Minister of Agriculture Qi Jingfa.

The MOU will promote cooperation in agriculture and forestry with the aim of fostering economic and social development in ASEAN member countries and China.

"Agriculture is one of the priority areas that the leaders of ASEAN and China have designated  for close cooperation and so this MOU is one of the building blocks in the fast-expanding relationship between ASEAN and China," said Mr. Severino.

Under the MOU, China will undertake training courses for ASEAN officials on hybrid rice cultivation, fertilizer production and water management. It will also conduct training programmes in fisheries and aquaculture, agro-industry and livestock farming. Some of the training will be carried out in China as well as in the ASEAN countries.

So far, seven training courses have already been conducted in China in the fields of crop production, hybrid rice cultivation and project management.

"We believe the development of China's economy will create tremendous development opportunities and promote a great market for the ASEAN countries and we're fully convinced that the cooperation between us will help to promote the common development of agriculture in East Asia," said Mr Qi.

He said China had invited over 250 agricultural management and technical personnel from ASEAN countries to participate in various kinds of training in China this year. He said these activities have deepened the mutual understanding and friendship between China and ASEAN.
 
To expand agricultural collaboration, both sides will identify cooperation in other fields of mutual interest such as advanced technology in agriculture, forestry, post-harvest technology and food security.

"China has a very long history of agricultural development and we're grateful to China for sharing their expertise and experience with ASEAN in agriculture," said Mr. Severino.

"Now, several ASEAN countries are keen in reciprocating these gestures of goodwill by hosting some similar activities so that Chinese officials and experts can come to ASEAN and also learn from the experience regional countries have gathered over the years particularly in those fields in which ASEAN has an advantage as we know most ASEAN countries as well as China depend on agriculture for the livelihoods of the majority of their peoples."

The MOU, he said, is a significant contribution to the overall relationship between ASEAN and China, which is essential for the stability of the region and the prosperity of its peoples.

"This MOU is only one of several agreements that will be concluded on the occasion of the Summit between ASEAN and China, which marks a significant step in the expansion of our relationship," said Mr. Severino.

"Another will be the Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation, which is very significant for the economic relationship between ASEAN and China. There is also the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-China Cooperation on Non-Traditional Security Issues - an agreement on transnational issues between ASEAN and China, which cover a lot of transboundary areas that concern us both."

Mr. Severino said the leaders of ASEAN and China will also be concluding a declaration to govern the conduct of the parties in the South China Sea during the Summit Meeting next week.

ENDS//

Issued by:

GERALDINE GOH
Senior Officer
Public Information
ASEAN SECRETARIAT

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