Speaking after the meeting, Commissioner Cioloș stated: ”This cooperation is important not only because China and the EU are key trading partners – including in food products – but also because agriculture is of strategic importance for us both in addressing the core challenges we face as economies and societies in the decades ahead: ensuring food security, fighting climate change, and achieving a balanced development of rural territories. Following the signature in 2012 of the cooperation plan on agriculture that has already started producing concrete results, I believe there is still an enormous potential for development for the benefit of both parties.”
During the meeting, Commissioner Dacian Cioloș and Minister Han Changfu discussed the progress of negotiations towards a bilateral agreement on Geographical Indications and about stepping up dialogue on trade aspects related to agricultural products. They also addressed issues such as agricultural policies in EU and China, the development of family farms, investments for sustainable agriculture, and business-to-business cooperation.
Commissioner Cioloș also emphasised the need to enhance the research angle of the Cooperation Plan with concrete actions in the coming years under the EU´s Horizon 2020 and similar Chinese programmes, with a view to increasing agricultural productivity and the sustainable management of natural resources. Following the signature last November of the „Letter of Intent on research and innovation cooperation in food, agriculture and biotechnology”, EU and China have committed themselves to developing joint research initiatives, scientific exchanges and projects using their respective programmes in this area.
