ASEAN business opportunities

September 6, 2023

We, the People's Republic of China and the member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, gather in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia, on September 6, 2023, for the 26th ASEAN-China Summit.

Recognizing that agriculture, as a basic industry, has a bearing on food security, social stability, economic prosperity, ecological conservation and other all-round work;

Recalling the important consensus on agricultural cooperation in the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership Vision 2030, the Joint Statement of the Summit commemorating the 30th Anniversary of ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations and the Action Plan on ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2022-2025), among other documents;

Commends the positive results achieved by the two sides in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Cooperation in Food and Agriculture, the Joint Statement between China and ASEAN on Cooperation in Food Security, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Strengthening Cooperation in Hygiene and Phytohygiene;

Recognizing that the region faces new and old challenges such as population growth, resource constraints, climate change and post-pandemic economic recovery, as well as multiple benefits such as the full entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the progress of negotiations on the 3.0 version of the China-Asean Free Trade Area, and the vigorous development of the digital economy;

He called for deepening mutually beneficial agricultural cooperation with new ideas, new ideas and new measures, and deepening and giving full play to the multi-functionality of agriculture.

Committed to making agriculture a new growth pole for China-Asean cooperation and contributing to the building of China-Asean comprehensive strategic partnership and the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;

The following practical measures were agreed:

First, improve agricultural cooperation mechanisms. To efficiently operate and gradually improve multilateral and bilateral agricultural cooperation mechanisms, support the ASEAN plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve Mechanism and the ASEAN Food Security Information System in playing a greater role in ensuring regional food security, and consider renewing the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Governments of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Food and Agriculture Cooperation, Continue to provide policy guidance for deepening bilateral agricultural cooperation.

Second, enhance the resilience of regional agri-food systems. We will further increase support for innovation in agricultural science and technology, spread advanced facilities and equipment, strengthen infrastructure for agricultural production, storage and logistics, improve access to agricultural inputs, vigorously develop the processing industry of agricultural products, enrich the variety of agricultural products on the basis of increasing grain output, and promote the establishment of a stronger agri-food system in the region.

Third, promote green, circular, low-carbon and resilient agricultural development. Promote green and resilient agricultural production technologies and low-carbon agricultural technologies according to local conditions, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides, promote the utilization of agricultural waste resources, promote the trade of green agricultural products, and establish a quality traceability system for green agricultural products when conditions permit, so as to jointly enhance the competitiveness of green, high-quality and distinctive agricultural products in the region. We will strengthen the conservation of aquatic living resources and promote the sustainable development of fisheries.

Fourth, promote the development of smart agriculture and digital countryside. Promote the application of next-generation information technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data and cloud computing in the fields of planting, animal husbandry and fishery, carry out exchanges and cooperation in smart agriculture, strengthen the training of smart agricultural talents, narrow the knowledge gap between urban and rural areas, promote the development of cross-border e-commerce of agricultural products, and encourage scientific research institutions of China and ASEAN to strengthen cooperation and enhance scientific research capacity. We will promote innovation in green agriculture, digital agriculture and sustainable agricultural development.

Fifth, deepen cooperation in agricultural production and supply chains. We support making full use of favorable opportunities such as the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the upgrading of the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to further smooth the channels of trade in agricultural products between China and ASEAN, expand the scale of trade in agricultural products and improve the trade structure; Strengthen exchanges and dialogue on laws, regulations and policies on two-way investment in agriculture, build the supply chain of agriculture, forestry and fishery between China and ASEAN in an innovative way, form new opportunities, new models and new channels for connectivity, build a high-level agricultural economic, trade and investment cooperation, and improve the stability of the agricultural production and supply chain in the China-Asean Common Market.

Sixth, promote the active participation of stakeholders in regional agricultural cooperation. Support the development of micro, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises and agricultural cooperatives; Increase technical training for smallholder farmers, women and young farmers so that they can actively participate in and benefit from regional agricultural cooperation; China will strengthen cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and other UN agencies, actively carry out South-South and tripartite cooperation, increase financial and technical support, and improve food and agriculture governance in the region.