The first day was devoted to sharing of experiences with (i) country presentations from China, Brazil, Egypt, India, South Africa, Viet Nam and France; and (ii) regional Forums presentations from Africa (FARA), West Asia (AARINENA), Asia Pacific (APAARI), South America and Caribbean (FORAGRO), Central Asia and the South Caucasus (CACAARI), Europe (EFARD), the CGIAR, and FAO and FAO/IAEA. The second and third days were devoted to group work on three key issues and the way forward in further enhancing the role of fast growing economies in ARD. The three key issues discussed focused on:
- Increasing emerging economies investments in international science, policy needs, capacity building for ARD and institutional Reform in ARD;
- Improving sharing and exchange of information, knowledge, skills and technology for agricultural research and development; and
- Enabling market participation by developing countries: Common research goals and interventions.
Related:
January 12 to 14, 2010 in Beijing. The Africa-Britain-China Conference on Agriculture and Fisheries was held from with over 50 delegates from Africa, the UK and China attending the conference. Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) of China and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the UK, the conference aimed to explore the channels and approaches for such trilateral cooperation, so as to help African countries to enhance their agricultural production capacity and to cope with the challenges of global food security. conclusions of the conferenceThe Executive Director of FARA outlined the priorities for agricultural research and development in Africa, representatives from MAFFS and MFMR of Sierra Leone introduced their agricultural and fisheries development; the MOA introduced policy experiences of China in developing agriculture and fisheries and the information of China-Africa bilateral agricultural cooperation and South-South Cooperation within the framework of FAO. DFID introduced regional cooperation on agricultural and food security and fisheries cooperation between the UK and Africa; the consultants specially invited by the conference elaborated on the principle, approaches and priorities for Africa-Britain-China cooperation from the angle of China, UK and Africa respectively.
DFID will support:
- A team of experts from China to undertake a study tour to the NEPAD Secretariat. The purpose of this would be to have a better understanding of CAADP. This study tour would include a visit to Sierra Leone, and one other country.
- The UK and African partners are keen to raise awareness with Chinese partners on a number of research-led initiatives that are taking place in Africa.
- A team of experts from China will undertake a study tour to FARA which could be organised to coincide with the FARA General Assembly in July 2010.
- A team will also undertake a study tour to the UK and up to two African countries to study the Research into Use Programme. This team would particularly focus on agriculture, aquaculture and related programmes.
- A team will be commissioned to undertake a strategic assessment of the value-added likely to come out of the trilateral cooperation
Reference:
DfID China and Africa
Related: BBC debate: Africa and China
