In order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of China’s reform and opening policy, to promote exchange and cooperation among countries in Asia and Pacific region on rural reform, agro-trade policy making, and to tackle the new challenges brought by the global economic crisis, Agriculture Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture, China and FAO convened the Policy Forum on Agricultural Reforms and trade liberalizations China and Selected Asian Countries: Lessons of Three Decades on 19-20 February 2009 at the Beijing Asia Hotel. The conveners brought together government policy-makers, international development agency officials, academics and representatives in private sector from Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka and Thailand to the forum.
The FAO Assistant Director General, Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, Dr. He Changchui presented in the Forum and gave opening remarks. He highly evaluated the achievement of China in poverty alleviation and food security, and stressed countries in Asia and Pacific region should learn and draw experience of reforms and development of other countries, further deepen reforms and increase motivation of agricultural development. Madam Yao Xiangjun, deputy director general of Department of International Cooperation, made a keynote speech on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture. She reviewed the achievement and experience of Chinese rural reforms in the last three decades, gave an insight analysis on the current problems facing by Chinese agriculture and rural development, and explained systematically the policies and measures taken by Chinese government in building modern agriculture with Chinese characteristics.
The forum deliberated on agriculture performance, reform process and prospect in the region, and discussed issues related to agricultural trade liberalization, recent soaring food prices and current financial crisis. A summary statement on proceedings of the forum was released by the end of the forum.
