Recently, with the active promotion and coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture, an MOU on Agricultural Heritage Cooperation and Exchangewas signed between the Bureau of Agriculture of Xinghua city of Jiangsu provinceand Mexico City Heritage Administration. The two sides will conduct exchanges and cooperation on agricultural heritage protection, agricultural product promotion and recreational agriculture. This is the second GIAHS site of China that has successfully formed partnership arrangement with a similar site of other county. The first one is the Jasmine and Tea Culture System of Fuzhou City, which established partnership with Burgundy vineyards of France in August 2014.
Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem was designated as GIAHS site in 2014. It features a creative conversion of low land swamp intoislet-like raised plots, with an indigenous way of utilization of water and soil. Chinampa Agricultural System of Mexico shares a lot in common with Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem in terms of soil and water resource management an ecosystem services, providing significant potential for mutual learning and cooperation. The cooperation and exchange between China and Mexico in the field of agricultural heritage is of great significance for inheriting traditional agricultural wisdom, tackling challenges of modern agriculture development and advancing the bilateral agricultural cooperation.
During its visit to China, the Mexico delegation carried out exchange activities with the Chinese side on experiences of agricultural heritage work, besides visiting Xinghua Duotian Agrosystem site and neighborhood forest conservation area.