共同推进“一带一路”建设农业合作的愿景与行动

来源:    作者:    时间: 2017-05-15

  中华人民共和国农业部 中华人民共和国国家发展改革委员会 中华人民共和国商务部 中华人民共和国外交部

  (2017年5月)

  前言

  进入21世纪,世界经济一体化加快推进,以和平、发展、合作、共赢为主题的新时代已经开启。2013年9月和10月,中国国家主席习近平在出访中亚和东南亚国家期间,先后提出共建“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”(以下简称“一带一路”)的重大倡议,得到国际社会高度关注。“一带一路”倡议秉承共商、共建、共享原则,致力于维护全球自由贸易体系和开放型世界经济,推动沿线各国实现经济政策协调,共同打造开放、包容、均衡、普惠的区域经济合作架构。

  农业交流和农产品贸易自古以来就是丝绸之路的主要合作内容。借古丝绸之路,中国从西方引入了胡麻、石榴、苜蓿、葡萄等作物品种,并把掘井、丝绸、茶等生产技术和产品带到了中亚,促进了沿线国家间农业技术和产品的传播交流,亚欧非的农业文明沿着古丝绸之路交流互通,不断发扬光大。新时期,农业发展仍然是“一带一路”沿线国家国民经济发展的重要基础,沿线大部分国家对解决饥饿和贫困问题、保障粮食安全与营养的愿望强烈,开展农业合作是沿线国家的共同诉求。在“一带一路”倡议下,农业国际合作成为沿线国家共建利益共同体和命运共同体的最佳结合点之一。

  “一带一路”倡议提出三年来,中国与沿线国家在双、多边合作机制下积极开展农业领域产业对接,合作领域不断拓展,链条不断延伸,合作主体和方式不断丰富,取得了显著成效。为进一步加强“一带一路”农业合作的顶层设计,制定《共同推进“一带一路”建设农业合作的愿景与行动》。

  一、时代背景

  当今世界正在发生复杂而深刻的变化,国际金融危机深层次影响继续显现,世界经济复苏缓慢、发展分化,国际投资贸易格局和多边投资贸易规则酝酿深刻调整。共建“一带一路”顺应世界多极化、经济全球化、文化多样化、社会信息化的潮流,是国际合作以及全球治理新模式的积极探索。

  近年来,全球农业发展格局深度调整,气候变化对粮食主产区影响不断加深,生物质能源、金融投机活动等非传统因素使农产品国际市场不确定性持续加强,全球粮食安全及贫困问题仍然困扰着很多发展中国家,世界上仍有7.95亿人忍受长期饥饿,20亿人遭受营养不良。农业持续增长动力不足和农产品市场供求结构显著变化,已经成为世界各国需要共同面对的新问题、新挑战,尤其在“一带一路”沿线,许多国家实现粮食安全与营养、解决饥饿与贫困的形势仍十分紧迫,亟待通过开展农业合作,共同促进农业可持续发展。

  后金融危机时代,各国更加重视农业基础地位,更加注重全球农业资源的整合利用和农产品市场的深度开发,对开展农业国际合作的诉求也更加强烈,为“一带一路”建设农业合作提供了难得的历史机遇。当前,中国正与沿线国家积极开展战略对接,共同构建“一带一路”合作框架,双、多边合作机制日益完善,为开展农业合作提供了有利平台。“一带一路”建设基础设施互联互通、资金融通为开展农业合作提供了保障,为沿线国家实现农业产业优势互补、共享发展机遇创造了良好条件。

  当前,中国农业与世界农业高度关联,推进“一带一路”建设农业合作意义重大,既是中国扩大和深化对外开放的需要,也是世界农业持续健康发展的需要,有利于推动形成全球农业国际合作新格局,有利于沿线各国发挥比较优势,促进区域内农业要素有序流动、农业资源高效配置、农产品市场深度融合,推动沿线各国实现经济互利共赢发展。中国自改革开放以来,农业农村发展取得了巨大的成就,对世界粮食安全作出了重大贡献。中国愿意在力所能及的范围内承担更多责任义务,在国际粮农治理体系建设中贡献中国智慧,与沿线国家分享中国经验,为全球农业发展和经济增长作出更大的贡献。

  二、合作原则

  坚持政策协同。支持“一带一路”沿线国家开展愿景对接和政策对话,寻求农业合作利益契合点和最大公约数,围绕共同关切的重点区域、主导产业、重要产品共同开展顶层设计。充分利用沿线已有合作机制,创新推动“一带一路”农业合作持续发展。

  坚持市场运作。充分发挥各类企业的主体作用和市场在资源配置中的决定性作用,遵循市场规律和国际通行规则,促进沿线各国企业间开展产业合作,实现优势互补,联动发展。

  坚持政府服务。发挥沿线国家政府间合作机制在推进“一带一路”建设农业合作中的引导和服务作用,深化对外开放,进一步提高跨境投资贸易便利化水平,建立健全农业对外合作服务体系,优化农业国际合作环境。

  坚持绿色共享。尊重各国农业发展道路和模式选择,深化“一带一路”建设农业合作与落实2030年可持续发展议程粮农目标有机结合,共商、共建、共享绿色丝绸之路理念,携手走产出高效、产品安全、资源节约、环境友好的农业现代化道路。

  坚持互利合作。兼顾各方利益和关切,积聚各国农业发展优势,充分挖掘合作潜力,加强各大经济走廊农业合作,以点带面、从线到片推进合作进程,构建相互依存、互利共赢、平等合作、安全高效的“一带一路”新型农业国际合作关系。

  三、框架思路

  “一带一路”贯穿亚欧非大陆,一头是活跃的东亚经济圈,农业发展历史悠久,一头是发达的欧洲经济圈,现代农业优势明显,中间广大腹地农业资源丰富,发展潜力巨大,各区域在农业资源、技术、产能、市场等方面各具优势,具有较强的互补性。

  推进“一带一路”建设农业合作是沿线各国农业发展、对外开放的共同愿景,中国愿与沿线各国携手努力,共同规划实施一批重点建设项目,创建“一带一路”陆海联动、双向开放的农业国际合作新格局,为“一带一路”利益共同体、责任共同体和命运共同体的形成提供有力支撑。

  中国政府倡议,沿线国家加强农业合作战略对接,秉承“一带一路”共商、共建、共享的原则与和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢的理念,兼顾各方利益和诉求,围绕政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通、民心相通的重点合作内容,以农业科技交流合作为先导,深化新亚欧大陆桥、中蒙俄、中国—中亚—西亚、中国—中南半岛、中巴、孟中印缅等六大经济走廊的农业贸易投资合作,打造优势技术、重点产品农业合作大通道,朝着共建全方位、宽领域、多层次、高水平的新型农业国际合作关系而努力。

  四、合作重点

  “一带一路”沿线各国合作潜力和空间巨大,围绕“一带一路”沿线国家共同发展需求和优势,着重在以下方面加强合作。

  构建农业政策对话平台。加强政策沟通,完善沿线国家间多层次农业政策对话机制,探索建立沿线国家政府、科研机构、企业“三位一体”的政策对话平台,就农业发展战略充分交流对接,共同制定推进农业合作的规划和措施,协商解决合作中的问题,共同为务实合作及大型项目实施提供政策支持。

  强化农业科技交流合作。突出科技合作的先导地位,多渠道加强沿线国家间知识分享、技术转移、信息沟通和人员交流。结合各国需求并综合考虑国际农业科技合作总体布局,在“一带一路”沿线共建国际联合实验室、技术试验示范基地和科技示范园区,开展动植物疫病疫情防控、种质资源交换、共同研发和成果示范,促进品种、技术和产品合作交流。共建“一带一路”农业合作公共信息服务平台、技术咨询服务体系、高端智库和培训基地,推动区域农业物联网技术发展,提升“一带一路”沿线国家农业综合发展能力。

  优化农产品贸易合作。推动共建“一带一路”农产品贸易通道,合作开展运输、仓储等农产品贸易基础设施一体化建设,提升贸易便利化水平,扩大贸易规模,拓展贸易范围。鼓励建设多元稳定的“一带一路”农产品贸易渠道,发展农产品跨境电子商务。加强“一带一路”沿线国家农产品检验检疫合作交流,共建安全、高效、便捷的进出境农产品检验检疫监管措施和农产品质量安全追溯系统,共同规范市场行为,提高沿线国家动植物安全卫生水平。

  拓展农业投资合作。发挥沿线国家农业比较优势,充分利用相关国际金融机构合作机制与渠道,加大农业基础设施和生产、加工、储运、流通等全产业链环节投资,推进关键项目落地。提升沿线国家间企业跨国合作水平,采取多种方式提升企业跨国投资能力和水平,促进沿线国家涉农企业互利合作、共同发展。推动沿线国家之间开展农业双向投资,中国欢迎各国企业来华开展农业领域投资,鼓励本国企业参与沿线国家农业发展进程,帮助所在国发展农业、增加就业、改善民生,履行社会责任。

  加强能力建设与民间交流。加强以农民为主体的能力建设和民间交流,共同开展“一带一路”沿线国家农民职业教育培训,提高农民素质以及农民组织化水平,增进沿线国家间交流互信。加强“一带一路”沿线国家企业之间交流合作,共建跨国经营管理人员培训基地,培养复合型跨国经营管理人才。

  五、合作机制

  为保障“一带一路”建设农业合作顺利实施,沿线国家应携起手来,以现有合作机制为基础,不断完善和创新方式,促进“一带一路”农业合作蓬勃发展。

  加强政府间双边合作。开展多层次、多渠道沟通磋商,推动双边关系全面发展,为农业合作提供有力保障。在“一带一路”建设政府间谅解备忘录下推动签署农业合作备忘录或编制农业合作规划。充分发挥现有双边高层合作机制作用,推动更多沿线国家和地区以及相关国际和地区组织建立高水平、常态化农业合作机制。强化政府间条法磋商,加快商签“一带一路”沿线双边投资贸易协定,加强政府间交流协调,加强投资保护、金融、税收、通关、检验检疫、人员往来等方面合作,促进企业实践与政府服务有效对接,为开展“一带一路”农业国际合作创造更佳环境、争取更好条件。

  强化多边合作机制作用。深化与国际机构的交流与合作,充分利用二十国集团、亚太经合组织、上海合作组织、联合国亚太经社会、亚洲合作对话、阿拉伯国家联盟、中国—东盟、澜沧江—湄公河合作等现有涉农多边机制,深化与世界贸易组织、联合国粮食及农业组织、世界动物卫生组织、国际植物保护组织、国际农业发展基金、联合国世界粮食计划署、国际农业研究磋商组织等交流合作,加强与世界银行、亚洲开发银行、金砖国家新开发银行、亚洲基础设施投资银行、丝路基金合作,探索利用全球及区域开发性金融机构创新农业国际合作的金融服务模式,积极营造开放包容、公平竞争、互利共赢的农业国际合作环境。

  发挥重大会议论坛平台作用。充分利用中非合作论坛、博鳌亚洲论坛、“10+3”粮食安全圆桌会议、中国—东盟博览会、中国—南亚博览会、中国—亚欧博览会、中国—中东欧经贸论坛、中国—中东欧进出境动植物检疫暨农产品质量安全合作论坛、中国—阿拉伯博览会等重大会议论坛平台,加强“一带一路”农业合作交流。在“一带一路”国际合作高峰论坛框架下,逐步建立“一带一路”农业合作对话机制、农业规划研究交流平台,依托“一带一路”网站建立农业资源、产业、技术、政策等信息共享平台。

  共建境外农业合作园区。推动沿线国家企业合作共建农业产业园区,形成产业集群和平台带动效应,降低农业合作成本,增强风险防范能力。引导和支持企业参与农业合作园区建设和运营,围绕种植、养殖、深加工、农产品物流等领域加强基础设施建设,优化农业产业链条,为实现经济走廊和海上通道互联互通提供支撑。结合“一带一路”沿线国家的意愿和基础条件,共建一批农业合作示范区,构建“一带一路”农业合作的新载体和新样板。

  六、行动与未来

  长期以来,中国政府一直坚定不移地推进和扩大农业对外开放,优化政策体系,主动融入农业全球化发展进程。“一带一路”沿线一直是中国开展农业国际合作的重点区域,许多省区利用山水相连、文化相通等优势,与“一带一路”沿线国家开展了富有成效的互利合作。中国西部省区立足旱作农业与中亚国家开展粮食、畜牧、棉花等领域合作,北部省区在俄罗斯远东地区开展粮食、蔬菜等种植合作,中国南部省区立足热带农业,与东南亚、南亚国家开展粮食、热带经济作物等种植合作,发展态势良好,势头强劲,均取得了显著成效。另外,中国通过援建农业技术示范中心、派遣农业技术专家、培训农业技术和管理人员等方式,积极帮助“一带一路”沿线发展中国家提高农业生产和安全卫生保障能力,为保障世界粮食安全做出了积极贡献。

  面向未来,中国将继续推动“一带一路”农业合作,积极参与区域性农业国际交流合作平台建设,支持多双边涉农国际贸易投资协定谈判,共同编制双边农业投资合作规划,增强对最不发达国家农业投资,推进实施“中非十大合作计划”,积极利用“南南合作援助基金”,开展农业领域南南合作,支持发展中国家落实2030年可持续发展议程,创新与发达国家农业合作方式,全面构建新型农业国际合作关系,推动全球实现农业可持续发展。

  下一步,中国将积极推动境外农业合作示范区和境内农业对外开放合作试验区建设,内外统筹,与沿线国家在金融、税收、保险、动植物检验检疫等方面开展务实合作,加强人才交流和信息互通,分享农业技术、经验和农业发展模式,共同规划实施区域粮食综合生产能力提升、农业科技合作与示范、动植物疫病疫情联合防控、农产品产业一体化建设、贸易基础设施强化、农业研发促进培训综合平台、农业信息化体系建设等七大重点工程。

  共建“一带一路”是中国的倡议,也是中国与沿线国家的共同愿望。中国愿与沿线国家一道,在既有的多双边合作机制框架下,兼顾各方利益,尊重各方诉求,相向而行,携手推动“一带一路”建设农业合作迈向更大范围、更高水平、更深层次,共同为提高全球粮食安全与营养水平,推进全球农业可持续健康发展做出更大贡献。

  Vision and Action on

  Jointly Promoting Agricultural Cooperation

  on the Belt and Road

  (May 2017)

  Ministry of Agriculture, P. R. China

  National Development and Reform Commission, P. R. China

  Ministry of Commerce, P. R. China

  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, P. R. China

  Preface

  Since the world entered the 21stcentury, the pace for economic integration has quickened, giving rise to a new era of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit. In September and October of 2013, President Xi Jinping P. R. China proposed the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative) during visits to Central and Southeast Asia respectively, which has attracted close attention from the world. Rooted in the principle of mutual consultation, joint efforts and shared interests, the Initiative is committed to a free trade system and an open global economy, encouraging countries along the Belt and Road (B&R) to achieve coordination of economic policies and jointly creating an open, inclusive and balanced regional economic cooperation architecture that benefits all.

  Agricultural exchanges and trade were an important part of the ancient Silk Road, via which flax, pomegranate, alfalfa, grape and other plants came to China, and Chinese know-how and products like well digging, silk and tea went to Central Asia and farther. Countries were benefited from wider spread of farming skills and commodities. Agricultural civilization expanded and prospered in Asia, Europe andAfricathrough closer connectivity of countries. In the new era, agriculture remains the foundation of the national economy in B&R countries, and agricultural cooperation is their common pursuit since many long to fight hunger, eradicate poverty, and achieve food and nutrition security. Therefore under the Initiative, agricultural cooperation can be a good foothold for B&R countries to build a community of common interests and destiny.

  In the past three years, great progress has been made in agricultural cooperation betweenChinaand countries along the Belt and Road. We have entered into proactive collaborations and connection through bilateral and multilateral cooperative mechanisms. Cooperative scope has expanded in width and depth, and is joined by increasing number of players in diversified ways. ThisVision and Actionis thus drafted to foster top-level design on agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road.

  I.Background

  Now the world is undergoing profound and complex changes. As repercussions of the financial crisis linger on, the economy recovers at a slow pace, and development is uneven. Trade and investment landscape and multilateral rules are undergoing major adjustments. The Initiative to jointly build the Belt and Road, embracing the trend towards a multi-polar world, economic globalization, cultural diversity and greater IT application, is a positive endeavor to seek new models of international cooperation and global governance.

  Transformation has also occurred in the global agricultural development structure in recent years. Climate change inflicts deeper and deeper impact upon major grain producing regions. Bio-energy, financial speculation and other non-traditional factors build up uncertainties in the global agricultural market. Food insecurity and poverty plague many developing countries, and there are still 795 million people suffering from chronic hunger and 2 billion people from malnutrition. Lack of momentum for a sustained growth and changes in the supply and demand structure at agricultural market are the new issues and challenges for countries all over the world to address jointly. Especially, it’s imperative for many countries along the Belt and Road to achieve food and nutrition security and eliminate hunger and poverty. So there is an urgent need to conduct cooperation to jointly promote agricultural sustainability.

  In post financial crisis years, countries are even more committed to agriculture which is foundation of the economy, paying more attention to the integration and utilization of global agricultural resources and deep exploration of agricultural market, thus more aspirant to carry out cooperation. This brings historic opportunities for countries to promote agricultural cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. NowChinais working closely with Belt and Road countries to dock strategies and build framework for cooperation. The bolstered bilateral and multilateral mechanisms offer platforms and infrastructure connectivity and financial intermediation provide guarantees to pursue the endeavor. Favorable conditions are laid for countries to achieve complementarities in agriculture and share development opportunities.

  China’s agricultural sector and that of the world are closely connected. It is significant to boost agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road, which is necessitated by the need forChinato further expand and deepen the opening-up, and for the world agriculture to grow in a sound and sustained way. It is also significant in its conduciveness to shape the landscape of agricultural cooperation in the world, and tap comparative advantages of countries along the Belt and Road. It will foster orderly flow of factors, efficient allocation of resources, and deep integration of markets in the region, and facilitate B&R countries to gain economic benefits and win-win growth. Since late 1970s,Chinahas scored achievements in agriculture and rural areas and made contributions to the world food security. Committed to shouldering more responsibilities and obligations within its ability,Chinais ready to contribute its wisdom to the global governance on food and agriculture, and share experience with Belt and Road countries so as to contribute more to agricultural and economic growth in the world.

  II.Principles

  Policy coordination.Countries along the Belt and Road are supported to conduct vision matching and policy dialogue, seek convergence of interests and the maximum common interest, and jointly hammer out the top-level design for key areas, leading industries, and important products of common concerns. Existing mechanisms should be fully tapped to drive forth long-lasting agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road in an innovative manner.

  Market operation.Companies are leading players. Market is to play the decisive roles in resource allocation, and market rules and international norms are to be followed. Enterprises will be supported to conduct cooperation among them to seek complementarities and common development.

  Government service.Cooperation mechanisms among governments will guide and work for agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road. Efforts will be made to deepen opening-up, improve investment and trade facilitation, set up or improve the service network, and optimize the atmosphere for cooperation.

  Green and sharing.Countries are respected to choose their own development path and mode. Agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road echoes goals on food and agriculture of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and advocates the principle ofmutual consultation, joint efforts and shared interests for a greenSilk Road. Concerted efforts are solicited to realize agricultural modernization with high efficiency, product safety, resource conservation and environmental consciousness.

  Mutual benefit.Interests and concerns of all parties will be accommodated, advantages in agriculture of all countries be synergized, and cooperative potentials tapped. Cooperation along major economic corridors will be cemented to drive forward the whole cooperation process and build new cooperative ties along the Belt and Road marked by interdependence, mutual benefit, equality, safety and efficiency.

  III.Framework

  The Belt and Road run through the continents of Asia, Europe andAfrica, connecting the vibrant East Asian economic circle with a long farming history at one end and the developed European economic circle with advantages in modern agriculture at the other. It links up countries with rich resources and huge potential across vast regions that enjoy advantages and complementarities in agricultural resources, technologies, productivity, and markets.

  It is the shared vision and aspiration for countries along the Belt and Road to promote cooperation and develop agriculture. China is ready to work together with Belt and Road countries to plan and implement a group of key projects and build the new structure of agricultural cooperation with links running eastward and westward over land and sea, which supports the shaping of the community of shared interests, the community of shared responsibilities, and the community of shared future along the Belt and Road.

  The Chinese government proposes that Belt and Road countries seek complementarities through stronger connection of strategies on agricultural cooperation, on basis of the principle ofmutual consultation, joint efforts and shared interestsand concepts of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and benefits under the Belt and Road Initiative, accommodate interests and concerns of all parties involved, proceed from science and technology, focus on policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds to deepen collaborations on optimal technologies, priority products, and trade and investment along the six economic corridors (new Eurasian Land Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia, China-Indochina Peninsula, China-Pakistan, and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar), and work jointly for a full-fledged and wide-ranged new cooperative relationship.

  IV.Priorities

  Belt and Road countries, with great potential and broad fields for cooperation, need to proceed from common development goals and advantages to seek closer collaborations in the following key areas:

  Policy dialogue platform.We should enhance policy communication, improve existing policy dialogue mechanisms at different levels, and establish a tripartite policy dialogue platform for governments, institutes, and enterprises to exchange views on development and dock strategies, work out plans and measures to press forward cooperation, address problems through consultation, and provide policy support for pragmatic cooperation and implementation of key projects.

  Agricultural science and technology.We should prioritize science and technology cooperation and strengthen knowledge sharing, technology transfer, information communication, and personnel exchanges through multiple channels. In accordance with needs of countries along the Belt and Road and the bigger picture of international cooperation on agricultural science and technology, we should establish joint labs, experiment and demonstration bases and agricultural science and technology demonstration parks (zones), prevent and control animal and plant diseases and outbreaks, and conduct germplasm exchange, joint research and showcase of findings to enhance exchanges on species, technology, and products. We should jointly build the public information service platform(s) for agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road, the technical advice and service system(s), and high-end think tank(s) and training base(s), so as to promote regional Internet of Things in agriculture and capacity of B&R countries to grow agriculture.

  Agricultural trade.We should jointly build routes and infrastructure for integrated logistics such as transportation and storage so as to improve facilitation, increase volumes and expand fields on trade. We should encourage building all kinds of stable channels for trade of Belt and Road products and boost cross-border e-commerce. We should have closer cooperation on inspection and quarantine, and jointly develop safe, efficient and convenient traceability system(s) and supervision and control measures to inspect and quarantine imports and exports so as to regulate market behaviors and secure a higher level of animal and plant health and safety in Belt and Road countries.

  Agricultural investment.We should draw on comparative strength in agriculture and cooperative mechanisms and channels of international financial institutions to increase investment in infrastructure and the whole industrial chain including production, processing, storage, transportation and distribution and impel the implementation of key projects. We should upgrade collaborations among enterprises, adopt all possible ways to improve their capacity and profile for transnational investment, and promote mutually beneficial growth of agribusinesses. We should encourage two way investment into agriculture.Chinawelcomes agricultural investment from enterprises of Belt and Road countries and encourages Chinese enterprises to take up social responsibilities and contribute to agricultural development along the Belt and Road by assisting the host country to advance agriculture, create employment opportunities, and improve livelihood.

  Capability building and non-governmental exchanges.We should foster farmer-focused capacity building and non-governmental exchange activities. Efforts should be made to jointly provide vocational education and training to empower farmers with necessary capacities and organizational skills, and build up confidence and trust among involved countries. We should also collectively build training bases for transnationals to cultivate all around talents and managers.

  V.Mechanisms

  For smooth implementation of collaborative activities as planned, countries along the Belt and Road should build on existing mechanisms and improve modalities creatively to vigorously promote agricultural cooperation.

  Bilateral cooperation between governments.We should conduct communication and consultation at different levels through various channels to seek comprehensive development of bilateral relations so as to support agriculture cooperation. We should facilitate signing of memorandums or formulating of plans on agricultural cooperation under the MOUs of cooperation on the joint development of the "Belt and Road" between governments. We should play the role ofexisting high-level cooperative mechanisms to attract more Belt and Road countries and territories as well as international and regional organizations to set up high quality active agricultural cooperation mechanisms. We should underscore intergovernmental talks on treaties and instruments to accelerate the signing of bilateral investment and trade agreements, and enhance communication and coordination to heighten cooperation on investment protection, finance, taxation, customs clearance, inspection and quarantine, and personnel exchanges to meet enterprise needs with government services, thus creating a sounder environment and better conditions for agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road

  Multilateral cooperation mechanisms.We should deepen cooperation with IOs and give full play to existing agriculture related multilateral mechanisms such as the G20, APEC, SCO, UNESCAP, the Asia Cooperation Dialogue, the League of Arab States, China–ASEAN, and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. We should also deepen cooperation with the WTO, FAO, OIE, IPPC, IFAD, WFP, and the CGIAR, and with global and regional developmental financial institutions such as the WB, ADB, NDB, AIIB, and SRF to explore new financial services, thus creating an open, inclusive, equitable, competitive and mutual beneficial environment for agricultural cooperation.

  Major conferences and forums.We should make the most of platforms set up by major conferences and forums such as the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, the Boao Forum for Asia, Roundtable Meeting on ASEAN Plus Three Food Security Cooperation Strategy, the China-ASEAN Exposition, the China-South Asia Expo, the China-Eurasia Exposition, the China-Central and Eastern European Countries Economic and Trade Forum, theChina-Central and Eastern European Countries Cooperation Forum on Entry-Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine & Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, and the China-Arab States Exposition. Within the framework of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, we should establish a dialogue mechanism for Belt and Road agricultural cooperation, a research and communication platform for agricultural planning, and an information-sharing platform for agricultural resources, industries, technologies, and policies at the Belt and Road portal.

  Overseas agricultural cooperation parks (zones).We should work together to jointly build agro-industrial parks to seek cluster and platform effect so as to reduce the cost of agricultural cooperation and prevent risks. We should also guide and support enterprises to participate in parks’ construction and operation, and infrastructure development in sectors including planting, animal farming, processing, and logistics to optimize the agro-industrial chain, thus supporting the connectivity of the economic corridors and the maritime Silk Road. Demonstration zones for agricultural cooperation can be jointly established on basis of aspiration and local conditions of B&R countries to support and showcase Belt and Road agricultural cooperation

  VI.Action and Future

  The Chinese government has been promoting and expanding the opening-up of agriculture and optimizing policy frameworks to partake in the process of agricultural globalization. The Belt and Road countries have been priority areas forChinato have cooperation in agriculture for years. Many provinces and autonomous regions have taken advantage of their linkages in location and culture with neighboring countries for conducive and productive cooperation. Western provinces and autonomous regions collaborated with Central Asian countries in dry-land farming of grain, cotton and animal production, whilenorthern provincesworked together withRussiain cereal and vegetable production in the Far East region, and southern provinces proceed from tropical agriculture to engage in cooperation with Southeast Asia andSouth Asiaon grain and cash crop cultivation. All have made notable achievements. In addition,Chinahas explored many ways to assist B&R countries to raise production and improve the ability for safety and health control such as construction of technology demonstration centers, fielding experts, and training technicians and administrators, thus making positive contribution to the world food security.

  In the future, China will keep promoting agricultural cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative by partaking in the development of regional agricultural cooperation platform(s), supporting talks on agriculture-related trade and investment agreements bilaterally or multilaterally, jointly devising the plan of bilateral cooperation on agricultural investment, increasing agricultural investment in least developed countries, facilitating implementation of 10 cooperation plans between China and Africa, mobilizing the “South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund” and promoting South-South Cooperation in agriculture, supporting developing countries to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, engaging in agricultural cooperation with developed countries innovatively, assisting in formation of a new pattern of relationship on agricultural cooperation, and promoting agricultural sustainability in the world.

  Next, China will promote building of overseas demonstration parks (zones) for agricultural cooperation and domestic cooperative experiment zones for agricultural opening-up and cooperate with Belt and Road countries in finance, taxation, insurance, and inspection and quarantine of animals and plants, bolstered exchanges of personnel and information, sharing of agricultural technologies, experience, and development modalities, and jointly planning and implementing seven key projects, i.e. enhancing comprehensive grain productivity in the region, science and technology cooperation and demonstration, joint prevention and control of animal and plant diseases and outbreaks, agricultural vertical integration, strengthening trade infrastructure, building the platform for agricultural R&D and training, and developing IT application network(s) for agriculture.

  The Belt and Road Initiative is proposed byChinabut shares common aspiration of countries along the route.Chinais ready to work with Belt and Road countries under the existing bilateral and multilateral cooperative mechanisms and frameworks and walk toward each other to promote agricultural cooperation along the Belt and Road to another broader and higher stage that respects interests and appeals of all parties concerned.Chinais willing to make greater contribution to food and nutrition security and agricultural sustainability in the world.

 
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