Han Changfu， Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) met with Hailemariam Desalegn, Board Chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, as well as several African agricultural ministers at the 1st Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Agriculture (FOCACA) in Sanya, Hainan on Dec. 8. They have exchanged their views on strengthening China-Africa cooperation in agriculture.
In his meeting with Hailemariam Desalegn, Minister Han said that the AGRA as a non-governmental organization has great influence in Africa . China is willing to enhance its cooperation with AGRA in order to jointly promote African agricultural development by tapping each side's respective advantages. He also said China will dispatch senior agricultural consultants to Africa at the request of AGRA and jointly conduct agricultural cooperation in Africa. Hailemariam expressed his warm congratulations to the 1st FOCACA, and spoke highly of China's long-term efforts to support Africa's agricultural development. He said Africa is ready to sign a memorandum with MARA to enhance its cooperation with China.
In his meeting with Said Hussein Iid, Somalia's Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Minister Han said Somalia is rich in agricultural and fishery resources, and has vast development potential. China is willing to work with Somalia to implement the agriculture-related targets reached at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and support Somalia's agricultural development. Hussein expressed his gratitude for China's consistent support and assistance to Somalia. He hoped China could help Somalia train more agricultural talents. He added that Somalia is ready to focus its cooperation with China in the field of agricultural machinery.
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In his meeting with Henri Djombo, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Republic of the Congo, Minister Han has affirmed the positive results achieved by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences in showcasing agricultural technologies in the Congo Republic. He expressed hope that the two sides would make even better use of the China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in the Congo Republic in order to develop more advanced and suitable technologies for the Congo Republic. Djombo fully agreed with Minister Han's proposals, saying that the Congo Republic is ready to learn Chinese agricultural concepts and technologies in order to continuously improve its strength in agriculture. He also invited Minister Han to the Congo Republic for the country's first agricultural salon, to be held next year. Minister Han expressed his strong support for the Congo Republic for hosting such an event and said he would visit the Congo Republic at a time that fits his schedule.
In meeting with Edwin Dikoloti, Minister of Agriculture of Botswana, Minister Han said China will actively support Botswana in agricultural development and rural affairs. He said agricultural research institutes of both countries would work together to compile agricultural development plans for Botswana. He also said China welcomes high-quality beef and pork products from Botswana. Dikoloti expressed his gratitude, saying that Botswana is ready to enhance its cooperation with China in digital agriculture in order to attract more young people to be engaged in agriculture.