China, ASEAN aim for deepened agricultural cooperation

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.