China, ASEAN aim for deepened agricultural cooperation

By：THE STATE COUNCIL THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Update：2023-04-14

BOAO, Hainan — Whether it be durian from Thailand, bananas from the Philippines, passion fruit from Vietnam, longan from Cambodia or coffee from Malaysia, more and more agricultural products from ASEAN countries are being well-received by Chinese households, thanks to better China-ASEAN cooperation in agriculture.

China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for the past 13 years, and trade in agricultural products plays a vital role, said Kao Kim Hourn, ASEAN secretary-general at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference late last month.

Kao said China and ASEAN have launched many trade deals in agricultural products such as grains, meats, vegetables and fruits, and conducted personnel and technical exchanges.

Representatives at the forum from China and ASEAN countries widely recognize that the two sides have deepened their agricultural cooperation in a comprehensive manner.

Fruitful achievements have been made by China and ASEAN in terms of investment and trade, scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, food security, green and sustainable development of agriculture, and intergovernmental policy coordination, which makes a significant contribution to fostering a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

China's agricultural investment in ASEAN countries accounts for 40 percent of its total overseas investment in the sector. The trade volume of agricultural products between China and ASEAN reached $61 billion in 2022, topping other countries and regions worldwide, according to Sui Pengfei, director-general of the international cooperation department under China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

China's General Administration of Customs said nearly 1,500 kinds of agricultural and food products from ASEAN have been exported to China. High-quality agricultural varieties and technologies from China have also boosted the development of agricultural industries in ASEAN countries.

The Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences has cooperated with ASEAN countries to carry out projects such as new variety breeding, green and efficient cultivation technology demonstration, and intensive processing of tropical agriculture products, said Xie Jianghui, deputy director of CATAS.

The academy has signed cooperation agreements with 25 scientific and educational institutions in ASEAN countries, such as Kasetsart University in Thailand and Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia.

A total of 50 agricultural technology training courses have been held in ASEAN countries by CATAS.Eight cassava varieties cultivated by the academy have been promoted in Southeast Asia, with a total planting area of more than 10 million mu (67,000 hectares).

South China's Hainan province is building several cold chain logistics and trading centers to process and store tropical agricultural products for ASEAN to strengthen connections between the two tropical-product markets.

In recent years, Hainan and ASEAN countries have jointly carried out research and development and utilization of excellent tropical fruit and vegetable resources while deepening cooperation in the planting and processing trade, seeing a steady increase in imports and exports of tropical agricultural products.

Hainan will make good use of the free trade port system and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership to promote deep integration of industrial chains, supply chains and value chains between China and ASEAN countries, said Xie Jing, vice-governor of Hainan province.

China mainly exports fish, garlic, citrus, apples, condiments and other products to ASEAN and imports fruits, vegetable oils, aquatic products, grains and other primary agricultural products from ASEAN. Sui Pengfei said if the two sides keep improving their trade level, the related trade volume in agricultural products may reach $100 billion in the next five to seven years.

Representatives to the forum also said China and ASEAN should cooperate in setting standards for planting and processing tropical agricultural products and enhancing food security.