The Workshop of Lancang-Mekong Agricultural Cooperation on Agri-food Quality and Safety was successfully held on 26 April, 2021.

Themed on “Ensuring Quality of Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Our Lives” with a particular focus on the quality and safety of fruits and vegetables, the Workshop attracted a diverse range of participants from government agencies, enterprises, research institutions, international organizations, etc., who shared their experience on improving the quality and safety of fruits and vegetables from the perspectives of efficiency, inclusion and innovation.

In his opening address, Carlos Watson, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative to China, pointed out that fruits and vegetables represent key agri-foods in the Lancang-Mekong area, emphasizing that enhancing their quality is of critical significance to ensuring local agri-food trade. “FAO will maintain close cooperation with countries in the Lancang-Mekong area as usual and provide any technical assistance as needed,” he reiterated.

Li Hongtao, Deputy Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation Centre (FECC) of China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) said that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with countries in the area and international organizations like FAO while developing its own agriculture and rural areas. “China would join relevant stakeholders in promoting sustainable agricultural development in the Lancang-Mekong area by sharing our own experience in green production, quality improvement, supervision enhancement and brand building of agri-foods,” he said.

This year marks the “International Year of Fruits and Vegetables” designated by the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the Workshop, fruits and vegetables were acknowledged as key agri-foods that carry considerable significance in the Lancang-Mekong area. The close relations between the development of the fruits and vegetables industry and local agriculture and rural areas and between agricultural trade and investment were also highlighted in the Workshop. Countries in this area would step up industrial innovation and cooperation in supply and value chains to ensure quality and safety of fruits and vegetables.

The Workshop was co-hosted by the Department of International Cooperation (DIC) of MARA and FAO Representation in China, and was organized by FECC. The Workshop was joined by over 100 participants, attending in person or via the Internet from countries in the Greater Mekong area, international organizations as well as Chinese government agencies, agricultural research institutions, enterprises, and others.