India seeks greater cooperation with China in farm sector

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit to China, India today sought greater cooperation between the two nations in the farm sector to improve bilateral trade in products like basmati rice, beef and fish.
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh discussed these issues in detail with the Chinese delegation, led by its Agriculture Minister Han Changfu.
The meeting assumes significance as it is being held just ahead of Modi's visit to China next week.
"India attaches high priority to its relations with China and is committed to further develop friendly and cooperative relations with China," Singh said in an official statement.

The Minister said India and China had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2006 in the field of agriculture, but he rued that "not much progress has been achieved so far."
India and China need to work together to identify new projects for adding momentum to the cooperation under the ambit of the MOU, Singh said, while seeking regular meetings of Joint Working Groups.

Sources said that the last meeting of the working groups was held in 2008. The next round of meeting is to be held by China for which proposals have not yet come.
Singh said the two countries have signed a document on a "Shared Vision for 21 Century" that reflects the congruence of interests and willingness to work on regional and international issues.

"We had an elaborate discussions. We will identify key areas where both countries mutually agree to cooperate," Singh told reporters after the meeting.
The Minister also raised phyto-sanitary concerns with the Chinese delegation.
"In order to enhance bilateral trade in agriculture and other commodities, both countries need to sort out sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues...," Singh said.
He said discussions at appropriate levels are progressing satisfactorily and hoped that all outstanding sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues would be settled soon.
India provides potential for trade of livestock and livestock products, fresh fruits and vegetables, among others, Singh said.
"India and China are neighboring countries and have large population depending on agriculture. We are looking to cooperate with each other so that farmers in both countries can benefit from this cooperation," Chinese Agriculture Minister Han Changfu told reporters here.

India exported agri-products such as cotton, castor oil, frozen fish worth USD 2,803 million to China in 2013-14, while it imported farm products worth USD 304.31 million.
"China has been importing a large number of agricultural commodities from other countries and India has the potential to export those commodities to China," the statement added.