MOA Press Office
March 12, 2011
On March 12, 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and the Shanghai Municipal Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding of Cooperation on Joint Promotion of Agricultural Modernization, with the focus on cooperation in the following six areas: a. implementing the strategy of reinvigorating agriculture through science and education; b. accelerating the development of modern agriculture; c. promoting the development of the modern seed industry; d. improving quality and safety of agricultural products; e. cultivating a market system for agricultural products; and f. advancing agricultural cooperation and exchange with other countries, with a view of jointly improving modern agricultural development both in Shanghai municipality and the Yangtze River delta. Yu Zhengsheng, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, attended the signing ceremony at which Agriculture Minister Han Changfu and Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng made remarks respectively and represented the two sides to sign the agreement.
Minister Han noted that a major task had been set at the fifth plenary session of the 17th CPC Central Committee to promote agricultural modernization while further developing industrialization and urbanization, and that a grand blueprint for rural and agricultural development in the 12th Five-Year Plan had been drawn up at the ongoing two annual sessions of the National People s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). MOA would unswervingly implement decisions and arrangements made by the Party Central Committee, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, and adhere to the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics. MOA would focus on the work of transforming the pattern of agricultural development, take ensuring national food security as its central task, and strive to maintain steady and rapid increase of rural residents income. MOA would take great efforts to boost comprehensive agricultural production capacity, resistance against risks and market competitiveness; press ahead with professional, standardized, large-scale and intensive agricultural production and operation; and increase support to agriculture in many aspects such as policy, science and technology, personnel and system. With several years of efforts, MOA should strive to make marked progress in the current stage of agricultural modernization and the building of a new countryside. This Memorandum would be beneficial to amassing various kinds of resources and talents, promoting the development of modern agriculture in Shanghai in concert, setting a good example with rich experience to megacities and coastal developed regions in their exploration of ways to develop modern agriculture. MOA would, in accordance with principles and requirements defined in the Memorandum, increase support to agriculture, improve cooperation mechanisms and guidance services, vigorously run key projects, implement major policies and advance innovation in systems and institutions. MOA would, in partnership with local authorities, help Shanghai take the lead in realizing agricultural modernization as soon as possible with the most advanced equipment, agricultural science and technology and the high-level agricultural organizations, thus making greater contribution to rural and agricultural development in China.
Han Zheng noted that agriculture played an indispensable part in eco-system protection and safe operation of the city. During the period of the 12th Five-Year Plan period, Shanghai would thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, transform the pattern of development to the one driven by innovation and press ahead with the development of modern agriculture. In developing modern agriculture, Shanghai would work hard to take ensuring sufficient supply of and quality and safety of major local-produced agricultural products as the primary task, fostering new types of farmers and increasing their income as the pivotal link and promoting rural reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force. Shanghai would strive to take the lead in realizing agricultural modernization and lead the nation in aspects such as science and technology, standardization and intensification of agricultural production. Shanghai would seize the opportunity of cooperation between MOA and the city to take the initiative in conforming to national strategies, conscientiously implementing the principles laid down in the Memorandum, and making an earlier breakthrough in settlement of acutely-felt problems concerning reinvigoration of agriculture through science and education, improvement of quality and safety of agricultural products, establishment of a market system for agricultural products and promotion of harmonious development between primary, secondary and tertiary industries, so as to better serve the overall interests of agricultural, economic and social development.
MOA Vice Ministers Wei Chaoan, Niu Dun and Chen Xiaohua, Secretary of the CPC Leading Group of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Xue Liang, MOA Chief Economists Chen Mengshan and Yang Shaopin, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government Wang Wei also attended the signing ceremony.
