New Delhi: Chinese Agriculture Minister Han Changfu is on a visit to India and yesterday met his Indian Counterpart Radha Mohan Singh. In a statement released after the meeting, Singh said that “India attaches high priority to its relations with China and is committed to further develop friendly and cooperative relations with Chinaâ€.
Singh said that relation between the two countries have witnessed all-round progress in recent years. High-level political exchanges and economic interactions have expanded and also a healthy momentum of high level exchanges on the sidelines of multilateral events has also been maintained by both countries. Both countries have established strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity. Our countries are the fastest growing economies in the world, and our relationship has acquired regional, global and strategically significance.
Agriculture Minister informed that MOU in the field of Agriculture was signed between the two countries in 2006 and not much progress has been achieved so far. Both countries need to work together to identify new projects for adding momentum to the cooperation under the ambit of the MOU and meetings of Joint Working Groups be convened regularly. The two countries have signed a document on a “Shared Vision for 21 Century ” that reflects the congruence of our interests and willingness to work on regional and international issues.
Singh said that during the year 2013-14, India exported agricultural products worth Rs 2,68,000 crore. During the same period agricultural imports from China were US $ 304.31 million. China has been importing a large number of agricultural commodities from other countries and India has the potential to export those commodities to China. Both countries can work together to explore ways for increasing bilateral trade between the two countries. There is great potential for trade of livestock products, basmati and non-basmati rice, fresh fruits and vegetables.
Minister said that in order to enhance bilateral trade in agriculture and other commodities, both countries need to sort out sanitary and phytosanitary issues for which discussion and exchanges at appropriate levels are progressing satisfactorily and hoped that all outstanding sanitary and phytosanitary issues will settled expeditiously.
Singh said that both countries have enjoyed excellent neighbourly relations with strong interaction of common interests and hope that today’s meeting will further boost and strengthens our bi-lateral relations.and wisheds for pleasant stay of delegation in India
Minister informed that China’s Agriculture Minister has already met him in Brazil and he will also met him at the G-20 meeting in Istanbul, Turkey where further discussion on the issues will take place