Brussels, 11/06/2012, (Agence Europe) - On Monday 11 June in Beijing, Dacian Ciolos, the European commissioner for agriculture and rural development, signed an agriculture and development cooperation plan with the Chinese minister for agriculture, Han Changfu. This plan aims to establish closer ties between the two economies in the agriculture sector and attempt to provide more efficient responses to international challenges. It also involves another step towards strengthened cooperation in the field of agricultural research, rural development, food safety and policies on quality.
It was through the projects launched following the 2005 bilateral dialogue that the two parties decided to strengthen consultation and coordination between themselves on agricultural related themes. European Union and China are significant trade partners in the field of agriculture. The EU is China's third biggest market in terms of agricultural exports and its fifth biggest as a source of imports.
Dacian Ciolos welcomed the new initiative and explained that it confirmed their commitment to work together in an effort to develop a response to the many challenges facing them, such as global warming and food safety. Changfu provided assurances that the joint efforts made would result in mutual benefits. (EL.transl.fl)