Information Office

Ministry of Agriculture

August 27^th, 2012

Vice Minister Zhang Taolin met with Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and her delegation on August 24^th, 2012. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral cooperation in agricultural science and technology.

Vice Minister Zhang reviewed the major progress made by the two sides in agricultural science and technology this year, and spoke highly of the US side for the intensified efforts in promoting bilateral cooperation.

Zhang and Under Secretary Woteki discussed issues on further implementing the Action Plan of China-US Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation, and shared the view that priorities should be given to seed technology, bio-technology and animal health, etc. Zhang proposed that other fields like agriculture disaster prevention and mitigation, eco-agriculture and animal nutrition, etc. could also be included in the cooperation.

The two sides agreed to establish a joint working group to develop specific cooperative projects and implementation plans. China and the US decided to co-organize a workshop in June 2013 to facilitate the implementation of the Action Plan. It is expected that scientists and cooperative project leaders from agricultural research institutions and universities of both countries will be invited to the workshop.