Wolfberry industry becomes Ningxia's major industry
The wolfberry industry, with a total annual output value of 13 billion yuan, has become a major industry in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, according to the latest data from the Ningxia Forestry Bureau.
By the end of 2016, wolfberry plantations occupied over 900,000 mu (60,000 hectares) in Ningxia, producing 93,000 tons of dried wolfberry and more than 40 deep-processed products such as beverage, seeding oil and health products.
With the brand effect, Ningxia has accelerated its wolfberry industry towards more export-oriented development.
Over 60 producers now export dried wolfberry and deep-processed products to over 50 countries and regions.
Their export volume exceeds 5,000 tons, taking up 60 percent of the nation's total, with a market share increasing by 15-20 percent annually.
Ningxia is located in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, with great sun light and heat resources ideal for growing quality wolfberry.
In recent years, Ningxia adheres to the modern agricultural development ideas and provides great support to the wolfberry industry which has been further enhanced
Source:Xinhua News Agency Date: 2017-05-05
China requires large banks to set up inclusive finance divisions in 2017
ChiChina's large commercial banks have been asked to set up inclusive finance departments to support small companies, agriculture, poverty relief and entrepreneurship before the end of 2017.
Large banks should become the backbone in the development of inclusive finance, according to a statement following a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday.
Their lending to small and micro enterprises should rise no slower than growth in all loans, the statement said, adding that the number of small and micro borrowers in a year should not be lower than the same period of the previous year.
Banks should tolerate a reasonably higher non-performing loan ratio for lending to small and micro enterprises, agriculture and poverty alleviation, according to the statement.
The government will offer monetary and credit policy incentives to financial institutions that meet the requirements for inclusive finance businesses, and support commercial banks to improve their service networks.
"By coordinating different measures, inclusive and convenient financial services will promote job creation, economic upgrading and improvement of people's lives," the statement said.
The executive meeting decided to raise the subsidy for emergency assistance efforts in natural disasters, the pension for family members of the deceased from major disasters, life assistance fund in the transitional period and central government subsidy for recovering and rebuilding damaged residential buildings.
In 2017, the country should solve the housing problems for all the people still staying in temporary places affected by natural disasters last year.
Source:Xinhua News Agency Date:2017-05-05
3rd Meeting of China-Argentina JCA held in Beijing
Mr. Zhang Zhongqiu, China’s Chief Veterinary Officer and Ms. Marisa Bircher, Secretary for Agroindustrial Markets of the Ministry of Agroindustry of Argentina, co-chaired the Third Meeting of China-Argentina Joint Committee on Agriculture (JCA) in Beijing on the afternoon of 27 April 2017.
The two sides reviewed the achievements of bilateral agricultural cooperation, spoke highly of the efforts made on mechanism development, agricultural trade and two-way investment, and looked forward to greater success in pragmatic cooperation. The two sides exchanged views on the Strategic Action Plan on Agricultural Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture of China and the Ministry of Agroindustry of Argentina 2017-2022 and agreed to conduct cooperation in 14 areas such as agricultural bio-technology, seed and scientific research.
To enhance agricultural cooperation, the two sides reached the following consensus: firstly, improving multilateral and bilateral agricultural cooperation mechanisms and enriching existing bilateral agricultural cooperation; secondly, strengthening cooperation in agricultural research and development and improving innovation capability of both countries; thirdly, facilitating bilateral cooperation on agricultural trade and investment and promoting connection and integration of agricultural sectors for mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
After the meeting, the two sides signed the minutes of the third JCA meeting between China and Argentina.
Source:MOA Information Office Date: 2017-05-04
Minister Han Changfu meets Egyptian Deputy Speaker
At the invitation of the Egyptian side, Minister Han Changfu met with Mr. Mahmoud El-Sharif, Deputy Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, during his visit to Egypt on the afternoon of 27 April 2017. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral agricultural cooperation. Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Mr. Song Aiguo attended the meeting.
Minister Han noted that China and Egypt are both ancient agricultural civilizations, sharing great similarity and complementarity in agricultural development. The two sides should improve cooperation mechanism, maintain candid communication and expand common ground to achieve mutual benefits and win-win outcomes. Minister Han suggested that both sides enhance cooperation in areas of improvement and breeding of main crops, joint development of animal vaccines, dry farming and water-saving technology, protected agriculture, agricultural machinery, personnel training, as well as agricultural trade and investment. China hoped the Egyptian side could provide favorable policies and create an enabling environment to facilitate Chinese investments in Egypt.
Mr. El-Sharif expressed his appreciation and welcome to Minister Han and said that China, a great agricultural country, has made remarkable achievements in agricultural development over the past decades. Egypt hopes to draw experience from China to energize its agriculture. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian society highly value cooperation with China. While implementing the 1.5 Million Feddan Project for land reclamation, Egypt earnestly anticipates that China could strengthen cooperation with Egypt and other countries along the Belt and Road to promote common agricultural development. The Egyptian Parliament is willing to extend stronger support and assistance to China-Egypt cooperation.
During the stay, Minister Han visited Chinese enterprises in Egypt and family farms in the irrigated area of the Nile River.
Source:MOA Information Office Date: 2017-05-04
China, Denmark adopt collaborative work plan
China and Denmark will strengthen cooperation in areas such as fishing, agriculture, food safety and drug regulations through a new collaborative work plan for the next three years, which is expected to bring the two countries' relationship to a new height.
Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen of Denmark agreed to the joint work plan for their two nations from 2017 to 2020 during their meeting in Beijing on Wednesday.
The plan details the road map and timetable for further cooperation.
Rasmussen was making the first official visit by a Danish prime minister since the two countries established comprehensive strategic partnership in 2008.
Li said he believes China and Denmark have great potential for further cooperation. And, as next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership, China is willing to use this opportunity to explore more cooperation between the two countries. Denmark is the first Nordic country to sign such agreement with China.
Li stressed that China also is willing to work with Denmark in dealing with regional issues and international affairs while promoting free trade and investment convenience.
Rasmussen praised China's rapid development since his last visit in 2010, and said China has shown increasing leadership on important global issues such as climate change.
He expressed his willingness to fully implement the three-year work plan between the two countries and said Denmark, a firm supporter of free trade, warmly welcomes investment from Chinese companies.
He also said as a member of the European Union, Denmark will promote the bilateral investment treaty between China and the EU to deepen relations.
After the meeting, Li and Rasmussen observed as the signing of six documents: on food and drug regulations, quarantine and sanitary requirements and giant panda protection, among others.
Liu Weimin, deputy director of the Department of European Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the two leaders had long and candid discussions on promoting free trade amid increasing trade protectionism. He said Li emphasized that free trade benefits all countries and contributes to global peace and stability as well as the recovery of the global economy, while trade protectionism serves the no one's interests.
Liu said the two leaders agreed to send strong signals to promote free trade and globalization in the upcoming China-EU Leaders' Meeting.
Liu said both countries would work to enhance cooperation and, as 2017 is the year of tourism between China and Denmark, the first such activity between China and an EU country, steps to increase tourism were part of Wednesday's discussion between the leaders.
China remains Denmark's largest trade partner in Asia with their bilateral trade reaching more than 110 billion Danish kroner (about $16.11 billion) a year, according to Denmark's statistical authorities.
Source: China Daily Date:2017-05-04
Xinjiang rural labor forces to receive skill training
From this year onwards, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is to carry out skill training for the rural labor forces, in order to tackle the shortage of skilled workers.
With focus on skill cultivation and upgrading, the annual training will comprise of 300,000 people, while the project is valued at 1.5 trillion yuan ($217.9 billion).
According to the government paper issued on April 14, Xinjiang natives are to account for over 70 percent of the total employed people for the project, including 40 to 50 percent coming from poverty-stricken families. The construction companies will have the native people undertake 90 percent of the unskilled work.
By 2020, the end of the 13th five-year plan, the government plans to provide training for over 1.2 million people. The rural labor personnel who are seeking job for the first time, or those who have no experience or formal training, need to go through a complete set of personnel training in terms of the national commonly-used language, discipline, physical capabilities, as well as general and professional skills.
"The plan will help to take the residents out of poverty by teaching them to 'fish' while solving the labor shortage”, said Yu Huan, deputy secretary general of the autonomous regional government.
Yu also stressed that the institutes are supposed to bear the responsibilities to ensure the qualifications of each trainee for the job upon the finishing of their training.
DATE:2017-05-03 SOURCE:China Daily
2nd Meeting of China-Philippines JCF held in Manila
The Second Meeting of the China-Philippines Joint Committee on Fisheries (JCF) was convened in Manila, the Philippines on April 26, 2017.
The Chinese delegation, composed of representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines, research institutes and local governments and enterprises, attended the meeting and held talks with the Philippine delegation which consisted of officials from the Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Department of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Philippine Embassy to China.
The two sides exchanged views on respective priorities and governance policies in domestic fisheries development, discussed the key areas, basic principles and government measures for bilateral fisheries cooperation, and conducted friendly consultations on the proposed 2017-2019 JCF cooperation programs.
The two sides reached a preliminary consensus on carrying out technical training and exchange activities, facilitating business cooperation, bolstering mariculture and strengthening aquatic product processing, among other things.
The Chinese side noted that both China and the Philippines are major fisheries countries in the world while China is also a major consumer of aquatic products.
The fishing industry is important for both countries and plays a critical role in promoting the employment and income growth of fishermen, and boosting rural economy and social development.
China has attached great importance to the fisheries cooperation with the Philippines, hoping to advance pragmatic collaboration on the basis of mutual benefits and equality.
The Philippine side briefed on its priorities and key measures for domestic fisheries development, and asked China for germplasm transfer of four freshwater species, and assistance in technical capacity building on five subjects.
China introduced its fisheries development across the country, the planned layout of fishing industry during the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan period, and the overall consideration for bilateral cooperation.
In response to the requests of the Philippine side, China put forward a draft MOU on China-Philippines Cooperation of Fisheries Technical Training and Exchange, and pledged to donate 100,000 Leopard Coral Grouper (Plectropomus spp.) seeds to the Philippines annually from 2017 to 2019.
The Philippine delegation extended appreciation for that and the two sides also discussed five business-to-business initiatives including the deep-sea breeding and aquatic processing in Davao, fingerling breeding and deep-sea cage culture in Palawan, tilapia development in Zambales, and so on.
The Philippine side expressed support for the above initiatives and pledged to enhance coordination and address concerns of businesses.
After the meeting, the two sides signed the Minutes of the 2nd JCF meeting, and the Chinese delegation witnessed the signing of the cooperation agreements between fisheries enterprises.
The meeting was held in line with the MOU on fisheries cooperation between the two ministries signed in Beijing in September 2004, marking the resumption of the JCF since its 1st meeting in Manila in 2005.
The meeting also decided that the next JCF meeting is scheduled in China in 2018
SOURCE:MOA Information Office DATE:2017-05-03
Trump nominee for China ambassador pledges to 'positively influence' US-China relationship
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump's pick for Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, said on Tuesday that if confirmed, he would work to "positively influence" the US-China relationship.
"As Governor of Iowa, I saw first-hand the importance of a positive and healthy trade relationship between our two countries," Branstad said here at his confirmation hearing.
If confirmed, he hoped to work towards the goal of positively influencing the US-China relationship, he added.
As the governor of a US state whose economy is mainly driven by agriculture industry, Branstad noted that almost one out of every two rows of Iowa soybeans is sent to China, as well as 33.5 million US dollars in pork in 2016.
However, the importance of trade between the United States and China extends well beyond agriculture, he said.
"Aviation products, manufactured goods, chemicals, electronics, and many other products and services are exported to China daily and help support and sustain the American economy," he told US lawmakers.
Calling US-China relationship "multi-faceted," Branstad also noted that the two countries must work together on major security issues, including the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula and cybersecurity.
Branstad also said that he looked forward to "connecting with the Chinese people and continuing a vibrant exchange of culture and ideas."
Branstad, 70, is the longest-serving governor in the United States, who also has long nurtured a close relationship with China and has visited China multiple times.
He served as the governor of Iowa in 1983-1999, and again since 2011. He was nominated by Trump to be the next US ambassador to China in December 2016.
Source: Xinhua Date: 2017-05-03
Military tech may aid shoppers to spot food tampered with
Military technology could soon enable civilians to spot when food has been tampered with, researchers in Tianjin said on Wednesday.
Spectral imaging technology, in an experiment, displayed fake green leaves in blue on the screen and normal ones in white.
The developer of the technology－Tianjin Jinhang Research Institute of Technical Physics which is affiliated to China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp－says potential applications of the technology include inspecting illegally colored oranges and inquiring about the expiry date of milk powder, jobs which are currently done by professional agencies with sophisticated methods.
"Within two years, we will put the spectral imaging function in smartphones at a cost below 100 yuan ($14.53)," said Liu Shuyang, leader of the spectrum analysis group at the institute.
The images will be captured by a standard camera on the phone and a large set of information will be processed by a special chip.
The spectral imaging technique has already been used in environmental monitoring, agriculture and medicine identification.
"I always check the production date by scanning the barcode, but I still have concerns. This technology may make my life more convenient," said Wang Shulan, a 60-year-old woman shopper.
The technology could create a market worth around 100 billion yuan, said Wang Yanping, a professor at the College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology of Tianjin University of Science & Technology.
Zhang Jian, Party chief of the research institute, said that the integration of civilian and military technology, which is a national strategy, has experienced ups and downs, but has been progressing well in recent years.
"It is very painful process for us to shift the way of thinking from the military side to the market side, so we are looking forward to cooperating with more enterprises," said Zhang.
The total output value of the institute stood at 1.5 billion yuan last year.
China Daily Updated: 2017-05-02
Fishing Ban imposed earlier this year
An annual fishing ban was introduced nationwide on Monday, weeks earlier than previous years for some regions, with the aim of better protecting fisheries and the environment.In the past, the off-season began on a staggered schedule - different days for different areas - with a June 1 deadline. It was moved up mainly because the spawning season of most fish has begun earlier, owing to the decay of fishery resources and global warming, said Zhang Xianliang, director of the Ministry of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries.
Zhang was speaking at the launch of a national campaign to crack down on fishing violators on Monday in Xiangshan county of Ningbo, Zhejiang province.
"A prolonged off-season will give the ocean more time to recover," he said.
If the fishing off-season had not been changed to an earlier date, a large number of the newborn fish would be caught by fishermen before the usual moratorium started, and that would harm the fishery, said Zhang Shengrong, deputy director of Xiangshan county's Ocean and Fishery Bureau.
"Moreover, if the fishing ban began on different days in different areas, it would leave a loophole for illegal fishing across different fishing regions," he said.
The minimum duration of the fishing off-season in China, the world's largest country in terms of fish catch, and with the most fishing vessels and fishermen, will last three months this year. Fishing will be resumed in different regions depending on how the fry grow. For example, it will be resumed in the East China Sea on Aug 1 and in the Yellow Sea on Sept 1.
For the first time, auxiliary vessels, which transport the catches and provide support for the fishing vessels, must obey the off-season as well to prevent covert fishing.
Zhang said all the vessels registered in Xiangshan had returned to port as required by Monday morning and all the fishermen had gone ashore and handed over their fishing nets.
"Only those vessels specializing in the research of aquatic resources are allowed to set off during the season," he said.
Source: China Daily