Chinese vice premier calls for deepening China-ASEAN agricultural cooperation

BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong said Tuesday China stands ready to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote cooperation on agricultural development and food security to a new level.

Liu, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when delivering a speech at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation in Beijing, saying the event is an important measure to implement the consensus on deepening cooperation between the two sides.

"It is conducive to jointly safeguarding global food security, coping with agricultural risks and challenges, and promoting high-quality agricultural development," said Liu.

Taking the ASEAN-China Year of Agricultural Development and Food Security Cooperation as a new starting point, Liu said China is ready to work hand in hand with ASEAN countries to deepen cooperation, strengthen policy communication and coordination, improve the opening level of agricultural markets, promote personnel exchanges at all levels and in all fields, and promote the cooperation on agricultural development and food security to a new level.