Maierdan Mugaiti, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, attended the 25th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three in Manila, the Philippines, and delivered remarks. 

Vice Minister Mugaiti fully acknowledged the notable progress made by all parties in policy, economic and trade matters, and science and technology under the framework of the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Strategy on Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (2016–2025). To further strengthen regional cooperation, Vice Minister Mugaiti put forward three suggestions. First, enhance strategic coordination, promote the implementation of the ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Strategy on Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (2026–2035), and support innovation in the ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) Mechanism, so as to better ensure regional food security; second, deepen science and technology exchange, explore cooperation potential in emerging fields such as smart farms and cross-border e-commerce for agri-products, while maintaining cooperation in traditional areas such as production and processing, and advance agricultural modernization in the region; third, broaden economic and trade cooperation and make good use of opportunities brought by the full implementation of the RCEP and the upgrading of the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area to enhance the liberalization and facilitation of regional agro-trade and investment. 

Representatives from ASEAN countries commended China’s contributions to regional agricultural development and food security and expressed appreciation for China’s continued support for the APTERR Mechanism. The meeting reviewed and adopted the Joint Press Statement of the 25th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three and other documents, and agreed that the 26th Meeting will be hosted by Singapore in 2026.