Vice Minister Niu Dun met with the visiting Swedish State Secretary to the Minister for Rural Affairs Magnus Kindbom in Beijing on March 27th, 2014. The two sides exchanged views on boosting China-Sweden agricultural cooperation.
During the meeting, Niu stated that China and Sweden are highly complementary to each other in agriculture, and enjoy great potential for further cooperation. Hence, it is in the common interest of both sides to enhance agricultural cooperation.
Niu put forward a six-point proposal for future cooperation:
First, the two sides shall hold the 2nd China-Sweden Agricultural Working Group (AWG) Meeting next year in China. Based on reviewing cooperation achievements over the past year, the AWG shall map out a workplan for the upcoming year and work out its implementation measures.
Second, the two sides shall support respective research institutes to carry out practical cooperation in agricultural eco-environment conservation by drawing upon Swedish management practices and supporting technical measures.
Third, the two sides shall cooperate in animal drug R&D, development of standards and technology system, and reduction of the use of veterinary antibiotics.
Fourth,the two sides shall cooperate in oats research, production, extension and processing.
Fifth, the two sides shall deepen dairy cooperation by conducting joint research into key technologies for dairy farming,breeding and machinery, organizing activities for communication on testing technology for quality and safety of raw milk,and conducting training courses for dairy farmers.
Sixth, the two sides shall boost bilateral agricultural trade.
Kindbom fully agreed with Niu on the above proposal. He stated that Sweden is satisfied with bilateral agricultural cooperation, and is willing to strengthen exchange in researches on antibiotic resistance and other fields to push forward mutual-beneficial agricultural cooperation in an all-rounded manner.