A major conference on grain and agricultural cooperation opened Thursday in Zhengzhou City of central China's Henan Province, aiming to enhance strategic partnership and deepen agricultural cooperation between Henan and ASEAN countries.
Government officials, ambassadors to China, business association representatives and entrepreneurs from ASEAN countries have gathered to participate in this two-day event, with the goal of enhancing agricultural investment, strengthening regional connectivity and promoting bilateral trade.
"This conference gathers the Asian member states together with China. We build our agriculture sector to get it stronger, to become a driving force for this food security, for the stability, the social stability and also sustainability," said Hong Narit, director of Planning and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia.
Henan is one of China's major grain-producing regions, accounting for a quarter of the country's wheat output. During the conference, participating companies from ASEAN countries engaged in targeted discussions with Henan's leading enterprises through "one-on-one" business matchmaking meetings to explore potential cooperation projects.
"My country is tropical season, so it's different fruits we need. So we can make some exchanges better about our products. We can come enter to China, and then from China to Indonesia," said Hotman Fajar Simanjuntak, director general of Horticulture branch under the Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia. Representatives from Henan and ASEAN countries also pledged to strengthen their commitment to international cooperation aimed at eradicating hunger and reducing poverty.
"China program on poverty eradication has been very impressive. It should be a model that should be followed by everyone around," said Pehin Dato Haji Abdu'r Rahmani bin Dato Haji Basir, Bruneian Ambassador to China.
The conference will include a series of high-profile events, such as grain and agricultural product exhibitions and industry cooperation promotions.
Grain, Agricultural Cooperation Conference kicks off in Henan
China has unveiled a slew of policy measures to promote the steady growth of foreign trade and consolidate economic recovery, according to a notice released by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.
Insurance companies are encouraged to increase underwriting support for "little giant" and "hidden champion" firms in their efforts to expand to diversified markets, according to the notice.
"Little giants" refer to the novel elites of China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are engaged in manufacturing, specializing in a niche market and boasting cutting-edge technologies. "Hidden champions" refer to highly successful yet lesser-known SMEs that are global leaders in terms of market share in their respective niches.
Banking institutions should continuously optimize financial services for foreign trade enterprises in areas such as credit approval, loan disbursement, and repayment while ensuring rigorous verification of trade authenticity and effective risk management.
Financial institutions are encouraged to increase financing support for micro, small and medium-sized companies based on market-oriented and law-based principles, said the notice.
Efforts should be made to optimize cross-border trade settlement, promote the development of cross-border e-commerce, expand agricultural product exports, and support the imports of key equipment and energy resources.
The country will also drive innovative development in green trade and border trade, attract and facilitate cross-border business travel, enhance maritime transport support for foreign trade, and strengthen employment services for foreign trade enterprises, according to the notice.
The latest policy measures are part of China's ongoing efforts to promote foreign trade growth, cultivate new international competitive advantages, and achieve mutual benefits with other countries.
The country has built 22 pilot free trade zones (FTZs) covering coastal, inland and border areas. These zones contribute about 20 percent of the country's total foreign investment and import-export volume. Foreign trade in the FTZs expanded by 11.99 percent year on year in the first three quarters of 2024.
In the first ten months, China's foreign goods trade rose 5.2 percent from a year ago to 36.02 trillion yuan (about 5 trillion U.S. dollars), with exports up 6.7 percent and imports up 3.2 percent, official data showed.
China strengthens policy support for foreign trade development
China announces slew of policy measures to boost foreign trade
