Learning from LATAM - Collaborative Commerce
Growing Agriculture trade & investment, research exchanges.
Agricultural trade between China, Latin America and the Caribbean reached USD 81.03 billion in 2024, double what it was ten years ago when the 1st Forum was announced.
In what is now a structured platform for agricultural exchange 120 delegates, inc. 17 ministers, 10 vice-ministers & 11 Ambassadors from the 25 countries in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) attended the 3rd Agricultural Ministerial Forum in Weifang, in China's northeastern Shandong Province in July.
The meeting explored opportunities for cooperation in science and technology, trade and investment and to strengthen agricultural production to improve the living conditions China, Latin American and Caribbean countries.
With a firm commitment to jointly address global climate change and food security crises, China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States have pledged to expand their agricultural cooperation.
The two-day forum brought together 290 people including officials from agricultural departments and representatives from agricultural research institutions and enterprises.
Green, high-quality development
China has established bilateral agricultural cooperation mechanisms with 19 CELAC countries bringing high-quality agricultural products to the Chinese market. Ángel Manero Campos, Minister for Agricultural Development and Irrigation of Peru, said China is increasingly emphasising environmentally friendly and low-carbon agricultural production methods.
Ahead of the opening attendees visited agricultural sites in Weifang including the comprehensive pilot zone for agriculture opening up and development, approved by the State Council. The site highlights China's capacity in agricultural machinery, seed cultivation, agricultural product processing and rural area management & development.
Weifang, with the support of the State Council, is building a new hub for international agricultural cooperation, a highland for trade and investment and a window for exchanges and mutual learning.
5-year plan
At the forum, China and the 26 CELAC countries reached a consensus on priority areas for cooperation over the next five years.
Apart from bolstering existing cooperation in animal and crop production techniques, agricultural technology, animal husbandry and veterinary services, agricultural processing and mechanisation, the group will explore cooperation in artificial intelligence, smart agriculture, rural revitalisation and other emerging sectors.
China plans to establish at least three agricultural demonstration farms in CELAC countries.
Representing Honduras were the Minister of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), Laura Elena Suazo, and the Undersecretary of Agriculture, Roy Lazo, and the Director of the National Agri-Food Development Program (Pronagro), Javier Quan.
Food production & consumption, with Chinese characteristics
The SAN-CELAC plan, made up of 33 countries, seeks to improve the social protection system and nutritional food security in all Latin American and Caribbean countries, based on the pillars of access, availability, use and stability of food.
Latin America stands out for producing around 17% of the food exported to other countries worldwide, which not only allows for the supply of food, but should also needs to consider the responsible use of natural resources. "We must recognise the contribution that Latin America makes to global food consumption" emphasised SAG Secretary Laura Suazo.
Han Jun, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China delivered a speech saying that "on issues such as food security, green and low-carbon trade facilitation, they have highly coordinated and jointly issued a "strong voice of China-Latin America".
The collaborative path forward.
Han Jun proposed four pathways to further strengthen China-Latin America agricultural and fishery cooperation:
First, strengthening strategic exchange through the implementation of a number of agricultural cooperation projects around common concerns such as food security and green development.
Second, expanding agricultural trade and investment cooperation, striving to double again the agricultural trade volume in the next 10 years.
Third, a focus on scientific and technological exchanges in agricultural mechanisation (AgTech), soil health, green development & aquaculture to strengthen capacity building.
Fourth, to deepen cooperation in poverty reduction promoting the implementation of UN-based global development initiatives (GDI) and making greater contributions to building a world without poverty and hunger.
Win-Win Development
The forum was themed "Promoting mutual benefit and cooperation on green development" and included meetings on agricultural economy, trade and poverty reduction.
The "China-Latin America Ministerial Consensus on Key Agricultural Areas" and the "China-Latin America Agricultural Cooperation Action Plan" were released.
The forum was chaired by Ma Youxiang, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China.
Also attending were Chen Ping, Vice Governor of Shandong Province and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National International Development Cooperation Agency and the National Grain and Material Reserves Administration.
China's direct investment in Latin American agriculture amounts to approx. USD 2 billion, four times the amount ten years ago.
China is the second-largest trading partner for Latin America and the Caribbean with agricultural trade playing a significant role in China-Latin America trade.
High-quality Latin American agricultural products such as Argentine beef, Ecuadorian white shrimp, Chilean cherries and Honduran coffee are entering the Chinese market.
China has signed free trade agreements with Peru, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.
Peng Tingjun noted that AgTech cooperation between China and Latin America is growing with both sides supporting AgTech exchanges on nearly 400 agricultural training projects.
China has promoted technological innovation through the establishment of joint agricultural technology laboratories, research centres and demonstration farms in Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru.
China's main exports to Latin America are machinery and transportation equipment, with fewer agricultural products, while Latin American countries mainly export raw materials to China, with soybeans being a significant product.