Vice Minister Yu Kangzhen meets Italian Minister of Health
DATE:2016-02-01 SOURCE:MOA
Vice Minister Yu Kangzhen met with Beatrice Lorenzini, Minister of Health of Italy, in Beijing on January 29, 2016. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening animal health and veterinary cooperation.
Yu pointed out that as time-honored civilizations China and Italy have maintained profound traditional friendship. In recent years the two sides have actively developed cooperation in agricultural S&T, personnel exchanges and agricultural trade. And there is broad prospect for cooperation in animal food quarantine and animal health. To enhance cooperation in this regard, Yu put forward a five-point proposal:
first, set up a direct communication mechanism between veterinary authorities of the two countries as soon as possible, and intensify information exchanges on animal disease prevention and control, vaccine R&D, and so forth;
second, deepen collaboration, ensure mutual understanding and provide support within multilateral frameworks like FAO, OIE and the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) ;
third, enhance the constructive role of Italy as an important member country of the EU in promoting related cooperation between China and the EU;
fourth, support cooperation and exchanges between veterinary research and education institutes, enterprises and technical staff;
fifth, increase the efforts of the Italian and the EU side, as the Chinese side hopes, to facilitate China's animal product export to Italy and the EU on the principle of mutual benefits, and jointly promote the two-way animal product trade.
Beatrice Lorenzini briefed on Italy's latest progress in food safety management. She fully agreed with Yu's proposals, saying that Italy is ready to work together with China to strive for further progress in bilateral animal health and veterinary cooperation.
