Minister Han Changfu met with Mr. Daniel Constantin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Romania in Bucharest on June 6th, 2014. The two sides exchanged views on comprehensively deepening bilateral agricultural cooperation and reached several consensus.
At the meeting, Minister Han noted that the two countries enjoy a long history and a sound foundation of agricultural cooperation, and made rapid progress in agricultural trade and S&T cooperation since the signing of the bilateral agreement on agricultural cooperation in 2009.
Currently, friendly cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) Countries is offering new opportunities to China-Romania agricultural cooperation. Against this backdrop and for the implementation of the Bucharest Outline on Cooperation Between China and Central-Eastern European (CEE) Countries, Minister Han put forward the following five-point proposal:
First, to build an Agricultural Cooperation Working Group at Vice-minister level as a regular cooperation mechanism;
Second, to enhance information exchange and sharing, and promote agricultural trade through exhibitions and trade fairs;
Third, to strengthen technical-level consultations for the access of high-quality, safe Romanian agri-products to China's market;
Fourth, to intensify cooperation in agricultural investment, and to encourage Chinese agri-businesses to invest in livestock, grape cultivation and processing, irrigation facilities and agricultural machinery in Romania; and
Fifth, to promote agricultural S&T cooperation under the framework of the newly-signed bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Further Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation.
Constantin expressed full consent to Minister Han's proposal, and noted that Romania stands ready to work with China in the above-mentioned areas. He wished that joint efforts would uplift bilateral agricultural cooperation to a new height and be an example for agricultural cooperation between China and CEE countries.
During his visit to Romania, Minister Han also paid field visits to a cattle farm, an apiculture farm and a vineyard, in the company of Minister Daniel Constantin.