Remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the

Second China-Latin America and the Caribbean Agricultural Ministers' Forum

Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China

 (25 February 2021)

Thank you, Minister Victor Manuel Villalobos.

Honorable ministers, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Good evening!

With concerted efforts of all parties, the Second China-Latin America and the Caribbean Agricultural Ministers’ Forum opens today. On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and in my own name, I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all the distinguished guests. To the people of Latin-American and Caribbean (LAC) countries, I give you my warm greetings and best wishes. My sincere appreciation also goes to Mexico for the thoughtful preparations for the forum.

China and LAC countries, home to around 20% of the world’s arable land, are major agricultural producers and suppliers, contributing 30% to both global grain output and international agricultural trade. Since the First China-LAC Agricultural Ministers’ Forum in 2013 in Beijing, China and LAC countries have achieved fruitful outcomes in agricultural cooperation from the mutual visits of professionals, exchange of science and technology, investment and trade, and human resource development, substantially contributing to our agricultural development and improved livelihoods of the people.

The world is now undergoing momentous changes unseen in a century, and the COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating such changes. The rise of protectionism and unilateralism poses challenges to agricultural investment and trade across the globe, causing grave concerns over potential food crises. Today’s forum is held under the theme of “To Bring the China-LAC Agricultural Cooperation up to a Higher Level in the Post-COVID Era”. It provides us with an opportunity to share experience, discuss cooperation plans for future prosperity, and forge consensus to achieve a higher-level of cooperation in such fields as agricultural science and technology, investment and trade, and human resource development. I hope that by fully engaging in forum discussions, you will contribute more wisdom and strength to the common development of our agricultural sectors in the post-COVID era.

I wish the forum a resounding success.

Thank you.