Vice Minister Ye Zhenqin met with Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in Beijing on 29 August 2017. The two sides exchanged views on promoting rural poverty reduction and agricultural cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
Mr. Ye reviewed the profile of agriculture and rural development in China and appreciated IFAD's contribution to improving food security and eliminating rural poverty in China. He noted that the MOA is willing to strengthen cooperation with IFAD in smallholders' development, value chains, and rural cooperatives, and facilitate rural poverty reduction and agricultural development in China and the world at large.
Mr. Houngbo extended his gratitude for MOA's long-time support to IFAD. He said that China has witnessed great successes in agricultural development, rural poverty reduction and safeguarding food security. IFAD is willing to boost exchanges and cooperation with China, learn from China's experience and advantages and contribute to agricultural development of developing countries.