Vice Minister Chen Xiaohua addresses High Level Forum on South-South Cooperation in Nigeria

Vice Minister Chen Xiaohua addresses
High Level Forum on South-South Cooperation in Nigeria

Vice Minister Chen Xiaohua attended and addressed the High Level Forum on South-South Cooperation held on Sept. 26-27, 2013 in Abuja of Nigeria.

The Forum was jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The Forum aimed at presenting and demonstrating the achievements of agricultural cooperation between China and African countries under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) framework, and discussing the innovative approaches and development of SSC tripartite project.

Vice Minister Chen elaborated China's policies and positions on agricultural development and food security, and shared China''s experience in agricultural development.

Chen also briefed about China''s latest achievements in SSC projects under the framework of FAO Special Programme for Food Security,and put forward a proposal for future South-South Cooperation, which was warmly received by the participants.

The Forum adopted the Abuja Declaration on South-South Cooperation. Participants were all committed to further broaden SSC goals and scope.

More than 80 delegates from 17 countries and several international organizations attended the Forum, including those from China, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Brazil, FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and World Bank (WB).

As a sideline event, Vice Minister Chen met with Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Both sides exchanged views on how to implement the consensus on furthering agricultural cooperation reached by the two state leaders. Both sides agreed on advancing the implementation of Phase II of the existing tripartite SSC project, agricultural technology demonstration project, agribusiness joint ventures and S&T exchange.

During his stay in Nigeria, Vice Minister Chen also had a working meeting with FAO Assistant Director-General, Laurent Thomas.