USDA Hosts First U.S.-China Agricultural Symposium

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu in Des Moines, Iowa on February 16 for the first U.S.-China Agricultural Symposium, which focused on bilateral cooperation between the two nations in the areas of food safety, food security, and sustainable agriculture. The symposium was opened by Xi Jinping, China’s vice president, who stressed the importance China places on supporting farmers and rural development, as well as on food security.

During the symposium, Vilsack and Changfu signed a historic Plan of Strategic Cooperation that will guide the two countries’ agricultural relationship for the next five years. Secretary Vilsack noted that the plan aims to deepen cooperation through technical exchange and to strengthen coordination in areas including animal and plant health, agricultural markets and trade, biotechnology, and global food security.

“China and the United States have an opportunity and responsibility to work together to help increase the availability and use of sustainably produced food for a rapidly growing world population,” Vilsack added.

Read the full press release on the U.S.-China bilateral agreement or view the full transcript of Secretary Vilsack’s remarks at the symposium.