Ma Youxiang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, met with Aiye Tambua, Minister of Agriculture of Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Jelta Wong, PNG Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, on Apr. 13 and Apr. 15, respectively. They had in-depth exchanges on strengthening China-PNG cooperation in agriculture and fishery. Sekie Agisa, PNG Minister of Livestock, and Joe Kuli, Minister of Coffee, attended the meetings. 

Vice Minister Ma said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and the leaders of PNG, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and PNG has continued developing at a high level and has become a model of cooperation between developing countries, featuring solidarity, mutual benefit and win-win results. Fruitful results have been achieved in agricultural and fishery cooperation; bilateral mechanisms have been continuously refined; exchanges in agricultural science and technology have become increasingly frequent; and agro-trade has steadily increased. In particular, the implementation of technical assistance projects regarding Juncao and upland rice has opened up a new path for all-round and sustainable cooperation.  

Vice Minister Ma pointed out that China is a major producer and consumer in agriculture. China’s grain output has grown steadily for eight consecutive years, and the supply of meat, eggs, milk and fish is sufficient, thus ensuring price stability. The dietary diversity of Chinese people and farmers’ standard of living have achieved continuous improvement. As China has embarked on the new journey of increasing its strength in agriculture, China is willing to do the following: 1) consolidate and expand opening-up and cooperation through new development in agriculture; 2) share successful practices and experience in growing and processing tropical crops, developing and conserving fishery resources, improving the livestock and poultry sectors, and conducting talent exchange and training, among other things; and 3) work with PNG to increase comprehensive agricultural production capacity and further safeguard food security. 

The ministers of PNG spoke highly of the friendly bilateral cooperation in agriculture and fishery. They agreed with Vice Minister Ma’s suggestions and said they looked forward to taking the development of PNG’s agriculture and fishery industries to a new level with the support of China.