Zhang Zhili, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, met with a delegation of US companies led by Sean Stein, President of the US–China Business Council, in Beijing on March 26. The two sides exchanged views on matters including bilateral agricultural exchange and cooperation, veterinary drug R&D, biotech breeding, and related policies.  

Vice Minister Zhang noted that China’s 15^th Five-Year Plan outlines key priorities for accelerating agricultural and rural modernization and advancing all-around rural revitalization, thereby creating vast market opportunities and cooperative potential for foreign-invested agricultural enterprises. He encouraged US companies in China to seize the historic opportunities presented by China’s rural revitalization, align their strengths with the practical needs of China’s agricultural and rural development, and share in the benefits of China's agricultural and rural modernization. He also expressed hope that the US–China Business Council would continue to play its role as a bridge, promoting friendly exchanges between the two countries and the steady, sound development of bilateral agricultural cooperation.  

Mr. Stein and representatives of participating companies stated that agriculture is one of the most practical and mutually beneficial areas of cooperation between the US and China. Exchanges between the governments and business communities of both countries are vital to fostering further cooperation. They also expressed their readiness to continue deepening their presence in the Chinese market, expand investment and business in China, and actively participate in China’s agricultural and rural modernization, thereby playing a constructive role in deepening agricultural cooperation between the US and China.