A consultation workshop in support of the formulation of Country Programming Framework for China (2016-2020) was jointly convened by Ministry of Agriculture of China and the FAO Representation in the country on December 18, 2015, with active participation of officials and specialists from various agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture, line ministries/administrations in charge of grain, forestry and water resources, universities and research institutions, non-profit organizations, and media, as well as representatives from development partners in the country including the World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development .

Over years, FAO and China have maintained active and fruitful collaboration. China has been actively supporting FAO’s work in promoting world agricultural development, strengthening global food security and advancing South-South Cooperation in particular. FAO, with its comparative corporate advantages, has contributed to the healthy and sustainable development of the agriculture sector in China through policy support, technological transfer, information exchange as well as the implementation of field projects covering various agricultural domains. Dr. QU Sixi, Counsel of the Department for International Cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Mr. Percy W. Misika, FAO Representative in China, DPR Korea and Mongolia addressed the opening ceremony, acknowledging and commending on the existing collaborative relationship and expressing the desire to further deepening and broadening mutual collaboration between the two parties under the to-be-formulated Country Programming Framework for China (2016-2020).

Chinese government announced, in late October 2015, a comprehensive proposal for the country's development over the 13^th Five-year Development Period starting in 2016. Aiming for a "moderately prosperous society" by 2020, the proposal stresses on such development ideas as innovation, coordination, green development, opening up and sharing.  A modern agriculture system that features high and efficient yield, quality and safe food produce, resource-saving and environment-friendly is set as the goal for agriculture development during the period. These guiding ideas and priorities serve as important reference in developing the Country Programming Framework for China (2016-2020).

Drawing on the achievements and lessons learned from the previous edition of the Country Programming Frameworks for China (2012-2015), and integrating China’s agriculture development needs and FAO’s comparative corporate advantages, three tentative priority areas were identified for joint programming and project interventions over the next five years , including  poverty reduction and food security, food safety and nutrition, as well as natural resource management and sustainable agriculture development.  Conducive suggestions were received from the participants, which shall feed into the development of the Country Programming Framework for China (2016-2020).