China and the Pacific island countries to foster agricultural cooperation

China and the Pacific island countries on Wednesday agreed to take measures to foster cooperation in the field of agriculture, including fishery.

The pledge was made in the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Guiding Framework, which was signed here after the opening ceremony for the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum.

Under the Framework, priority will be given to encouraging cooperation in the study and formulation of agricultural development programs, transfer of technical expertise, construction of agricultural infrastructure, manufacture of machines for agricultural use, processing of agricultural products, fishery and plant farming as well as assessment and sustainable use and development of fishery resources.

Enterprises will be encouraged to enter into joint venture partnerships in agriculture, including fishery, and experience of all countries in the development of agriculture, including fishery, will be shared with a view to facilitating investment, technical cooperation and cooperation between enterprises.

China and the Pacific island countries also agreed to make more efforts to encourage and promote discussion among their enterprises to explore different types of cooperation in the fields of transportation, electric power, wind and solar power technology, telecommunication, water supply, water treatment and urban planning, and to facilitate cooperation in these fields.

China and the Pacific island countries agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of natural resources and to make efforts to optimize utilization of resources on the basis of sustainable development.

And cooperation in the sustainable exploitation and utilization of natural resources will be promoted on the basis of mutual benefit.

The two-day Forum conference, with the theme of "Promoting Cooperation for Common Development," was co-sponsored by the governments of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Fiji Islands.

Source: Xinhua