Zhang Zhili, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Lawrence Hanson, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, co-chaired the 13th Meeting of the China–Canada Joint Committee on Agriculture in Ottawa. The two sides held in-depth discussions on key issues of common concern and priorities for future cooperation.  

Vice Minister Zhang said that, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the agricultural departments of China and Canada have moved toward each other and worked together to relaunch the China–Canada Joint Committee on Agriculture. Bilateral agricultural dialogue and cooperation have resumed on an institutionalized and regular basis. China stands ready to work with Canada to broaden the scope of agricultural exchanges under the existing Joint Committee mechanism and to establish working groups in areas such as agricultural science and technology, soil health, and the seed industry, so as to further deepen bilateral cooperation. He added that, guided by the key consensus reached by the two heads of state, the two sides will actively advance China-Canada agricultural cooperation toward all-round, multi-tiered and wide-ranging development, and work together to turn priorities for future cooperation into concrete actions and tangible outcomes.  

Deputy Minister Hanson spoke highly of China–Canada agricultural cooperation and agreed with the proposals on expanding agricultural cooperation between the two countries. He said that convening the Joint Committee meeting was of great significance and the meeting yielded fruitful results. Canada looks forward to the two sides continuing to share information and updates on cooperation in relevant areas as well as working together to implement the consensus reached at this meeting.  

Wang Di, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, and Chris Moran, Assistant Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, attended the meeting.