The 16^th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting was held in Indore, India, from June 12–13. Tao Huaiying, Chief Veterinary Officer(CVO) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, led the Chinese delegation to the meeting and delivered remarks. 

CVO Tao noted that President Xi Jinping emphasized that China must always maintain a firm grip on its own food supply, with domestically produced grain as the primary source of its food supply. Last year, China’s grain output reached a record high. The country has accelerated the development of new quality productive forces in agriculture, made steady progress in green agricultural transformation, strengthened poverty reduction and regular assistance programs, and achieved tangible outcomes in rural revitalization. 

He also said that the global food system is facing multiple challenges, which calls for enhanced cooperation among BRICS countries and joint efforts to address them. BRICS countries should: 1) focus on ensuring food security and improving nutrition, and build a diversified food supply system; 2) jointly safeguard the multilateral trading system and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in agriculture; 3) enhance agricultural innovation partnerships and advance modern agriculture through digital technologies. 

The meeting was chaired by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of India, under the theme “Advancing Farmer-Centric Approaches for Sustainable Development in Agriculture Through Cooperation, Innovation, Trade, and Climate Resilience.” The meeting adopted the Joint Declaration of the 16^th BRICS Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting. 

During the meeting, CVO Tao attended and delivered remarks at the Agriculture Ministers’ Dialogue on “Small Farmers, Women, and Youth: Shaping the Future of Food Security.” He also met with John Henry Steenhuisen, Minister of Agriculture of South Africa. They exchanged views on strengthening agricultural cooperation between China and South Africa.