The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that Minister Song Miryung held a bilateral meeting with Han Jun, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, in Incheon on August 9, where they discussed expanding cooperation and resuming exchanges in the fields of agriculture and rural affairs.
The two ministers, who met on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting and the Korea-China-Japan Agriculture Ministers' Meeting held in Incheon, agreed to share experiences and know-how in rural development and to pursue mid- to long-term and practical cooperation.
This meeting served as an opportunity to restore and resume cooperation in the agricultural sector between Korea and China, which had stagnated for several years due to COVID-19 and diplomatic circumstances. The two countries agreed to reopen the director-general-level Korea-China Agricultural Cooperation Committee, which had been suspended since 2018, to expand exchanges in agricultural policy, technology, and research personnel.
In addition, both sides agreed on the necessity of cooperation in smart agriculture for digital transformation and climate change response, as well as the need to expand joint research and personnel exchanges. They also decided to strengthen cooperation so that they can present a united voice on international platforms such as APEC and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Furthermore, they agreed to share policy experiences in the field of agricultural heritage and to solidify the foundation for cooperation through international academic conferences and other means.
Minister Song stated, "Korea and China are geographically close and are important partners with complementary capabilities in the agricultural sector," adding, "I hope this meeting will serve as a practical opportunity for a new leap forward in agricultural and rural cooperation."
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