The Bureau of Veterinary Service (VB) of the Ministry of Agriculture of China (MOA) and Animal Production and Health Division (AGA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations held a consultation meeting on transboundary animal diseases (TADs) control at the headquarters of FAO in Rome on May 22-23, 2014.
The two sides exchanged progress in animal health and reviewed China-FAO cooperation in past years. Key issues discussed at the meeting included response to public health incidents like H7N9 inluenza and control of majors TADs like peste des petits ruminants (PPR), and strategies for future cooperation in animal health. Mr. Zhang zhongqiu, the VB Director-General,Mr. Wang Ren, the FAO Assistant Director General for Agriculture and Consumer Protection, and Mr. Berhe Tekola, AGA Director, attended the meeting.
At the meeting, Zhang noted that China and FAO have maintained close cooperation in animal health over the past years. The two sides have established sound cooperation mechanisms, and jointly conducted a group of projects including Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians and Capacity Building for Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) Preparedness and Response. Thanks to pragmatic cooperation in veterinary lab network and TADs control, remarkable achievements have been made in animal health cooperation between China and FAO.
Zhang also stressed in his speech that, as agricultural modernization in China advances, we need to further enhance veterinary service. MOA is willing to intensify cooperation with FAO in China's capacity building of veterinary serviceto contribute to animal health in China and the world.
Both Mr. Wang Ren and Mr. Berhe Tekola underlined the significant influence of China on global animal health and the priority FAO attached to its cooperation with China in veterinary service. They both expressed the hope to further cooperation between FAO and China to jointly contribute to the sound development of veterinary service both in China and in the world.
Besides reviewing achievements and experience in past years, the two sides also analyzed the situation and tasks faced by veterinary service, and identified priority areas for future cooperation.
The two sides agreed to cement cooperation in TADs control, improvement in veterinary lab network and its management, control of high-risk exotic animal diseases (for instance PPR),and sharing of veterinary experts.
The consultation meeting was attended by over 20 participants, including representatives from MOA Bureau of Veterinary Service, the China Animal Health and Epidemiology Center(CAHEC), relevant FAO divisions at the headquarters and FAO Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) China Office.