Deepening Agricultural Cooperation between China and Italy-- Agricultural and Food Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Italy

Wang Yang, Vice Premier of the State Council

It gives me great pleasure to come to Milan, the fashion capital of the world, to attend today's forum. Here, on behalf of the Chinese Government, I would like to extend warm congratulations on the holding of this forum and express my heartfelt thanks to all the organizers for their meticulous arrangements. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who care about, support and participate in agricultural and food economic and trade cooperation between China and Italy.

Agriculture is not only the condition for human survival and development, but also the basis for the economic and social development of various countries. The Chinese government attaches special importance to the issue of food and agriculture, always regards the development of agriculture as the top priority of running the country and security, and insists that it mainly relies on its own strength to solve the problem of feeding more than 1.3 billion people. We have continuously strengthened the construction of agricultural infrastructure, promoted the progress of agricultural science and technology, and made universally recognized achievements in agricultural development. China uses 10% of the world's arable land and about 6% of the world's fresh water resources to feed 20% of the world's population. China's grain output has increased for 11 consecutive years, with a total output of more than 600 million tons last year. In the past 10 years, China's grain output has increased by nearly 30%, meat by more than 20%, vegetables by more than 30% and fruits by more than 70%. With the substantial increase in agricultural output, the quality and safety of agricultural products have been continuously improved, and the protection of agricultural resources has been further strengthened. The sustained growth of agriculture has not only provided strong support for the healthy development of China's economy, but also made positive contributions to the development of world agriculture and global food security.

China is not only a big country in agricultural production, but also a big country in agricultural products and food consumption and trade. Over the past 10 years, China's total trade in agricultural products has increased at an average annual rate of 14.8%, with imports of agricultural products growing even faster, with an average annual growth rate of 17%. In 2014, China's total trade in agricultural products reached US $192.8 billion, of which US $71.3 billion was exported and US $121.5 billion was imported. China imports not only grain and cotton, but also other agricultural products such as olive oil, wine and fruits. Agricultural mutual investment and agricultural technical cooperation between China and other countries are also developing rapidly.

Although China and Italy are far apart, the friendship between the two sides has a long history. 740 years ago, Marco Polo came to China along the Silk Road and set a precedent for cultural, economic and trade exchanges between the East and the West. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. Over the past 45 years, the two sides have enjoyed mutual respect and trust in politics, mutual benefit in economy, and mutual learning in culture. The relations between the two countries are in the best period in history.

China and Italy are both countries with splendid agricultural civilization, and agricultural cooperation has always been an indispensable key area in the historical process of exchanges and cooperation between our two countries. In recent years, Sino-Italian agricultural cooperation has developed rapidly, and the trade volume of agricultural products between the two countries has increased from US $250 million in 2000 to US $1.16 billion in 2014, with an average annual growth rate of 11.6%. Of course, compared with the economic volume of China and Italy, and compared with the trade volume of agricultural products between China and other countries in the world, the scale of trade and investment in agricultural products between China and Italy is not large, the growth rate is not fast, and there is still a certain gap. However, we can see potential and broad prospects from the gap.

At present, the common interests of the two countries are expanding, the mutual demand is increasing, and the desire of enterprises to strengthen cooperation is increasing. In China, the Italian elements in the diet are constantly enriching. Many young people not only like to eat, but also like to learn to make pizza and spaghetti. Italian wine and olive oil have long been famous. In Italy, I also find that Chinese restaurants abound. I have also heard that many Milan residents are adept at using chopsticks to "clip" steamed buns instead of poking them. I also heard that Beijing Roast Duck is a perfect match with Italian Pinot Noir, and Kung Pao chicken is delicious with Taolaixi red wine. It is believed that with the further strengthening of cooperation between China and Italy in the fields of agriculture and food, through "eating", which everyone is willing to do, Chinese and Italian consumers will get more, better and more mixed food choices, and cultural exchanges between China and Italy will also be deepened.

Ladies and gentlemen,

There is an Italian proverb, "genius knows genius." the Chinese say that "heroes cherish heroes." China cherishes its profound friendship with Italy and is willing to take the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to deepen friendly relations with Italy. We will vigorously raise the level of practical cooperation in agriculture between China and Italy and push the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy to a new level. To this end, I would like to make the following suggestions on future agricultural cooperation:

First, lay a solid foundation for cooperation. The agricultural departments of the two countries should better play the role of macro guidance and overall planning and coordination, make use of the existing cooperation mechanism, establish an efficient communication mechanism, maintain smooth exchanges, and properly plan the direction and focus of future cooperation.

Second, strengthen the coordination of positions. The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination on major international food and agriculture issues such as food security, climate change and biomass energy, reach a consensus, jointly oppose all forms of trade protectionism, establish a fair, reasonable, sustained and stable international trade order in agricultural products, and create a good international environment for agricultural development.

Third, expand the scale of trade. The two sides should expand the opening of markets to each other, strengthen cooperation in customs, quality inspection, logistics and personnel entry and exit, and fully unleash the development potential of agricultural trade between the two sides. China has never pursued a trade surplus and is willing to create opportunities for enterprises of both sides through various ways to enrich the vegetable baskets of the people of the two countries and promote the dynamic balance of mutual trade.

Fourth, promote investment growth. The two sides should remove various investment barriers and actively carry out various forms of investment promotion activities, and the economic and trade promotion agencies of both sides should fully play the role of bridge and link, build a platform for exchanges between enterprises of the two sides, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, and help enterprises find more opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

At present, China is actively promoting the construction of "Belt and Road Initiative". As the starting point and end point of the ancient Silk Road, China and Italy have created a brilliant history. We should make full use of this unique advantage to promote the exchange of agriculture and food culture, promote the development of relations between the two countries, and make new and greater contributions to promoting the sustainable development of global agriculture. I firmly believe that with the unremitting efforts of the governments and economic circles of the two countries, including all friends present here, China-Italy agricultural cooperation will certainly bear more fruitful fruits.

Finally, I wish the Sino-Italian Forum on Agricultural and Food Economic and Trade Cooperation a complete success!

Thank you!