China, ASEAN discuss smart agriculture cooperation

China and ASEAN countries have discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in smart agriculture, food security and sustainable agricultural development, with a focus on digital technologies, innovation and green supply chains.

The discussions took place during the 2026 ASEAN-China (Henan) Cooperation and Development Conference on Food and Agriculture and the 5th Belt and Road (Henan) International Agricultural Cooperation Expo, co-hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the People’s Government of Henan Province from October 30 to November 1 in Zhengzhou, China.

More than 500 participants attended the conference, including government officials, diplomats, academics and business representatives from China and ASEAN member states.

Cambodian representatives included Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Hong Narit, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce Svay Nakry and Cambodian Ambassador to China Soeung Rathchavy.

Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, addressed the conference via video message, while Zhang Lizhong, Secretary-General of the ACC, delivered remarks at the opening ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Zhang said 2026 marked the fifth anniversary of the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that agricultural trade and investment between the two sides had continued to grow.

He said the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the signing of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol had created new opportunities for cooperation.

Amid challenges from climate change, protectionism and geopolitical tensions, China and ASEAN should strengthen cooperation to improve agricultural productivity through innovation, promote climate-smart farming and build resilient food supply chains, he added.

Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Henan Provincial Committee, said Henan would strengthen agricultural research and innovation with ASEAN countries to reinforce regional food security.

He added that Henan would also work with ASEAN to develop green agricultural supply chains, expand agricultural trade and services, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges.

Malaysian Senate President Dato Sri Awang Bemee said food security was fundamental to human security and dignity, calling for stronger regional cooperation in agricultural technology, including smart irrigation, meteorological early-warning systems and digital traceability.

He said such cooperation could help farmers stabilise production, reduce losses and improve market access.

Myanmar Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Ye Tun Win said digital transformation was essential to modernising agriculture and strengthening food security. He expressed his country’s interest in expanding cooperation with China through joint research, demonstration projects and technical training for farmers.

In his video message, Kao said digitalisation was essential to building resilient food systems, calling for deeper ASEAN-China cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital platforms, remote sensing and precision agriculture.

He said cooperation should focus on practical technologies suited to ASEAN’s climate and diverse agricultural conditions.

Participants agreed that the conference had become an important platform for strengthening China-ASEAN friendship and promoting practical agricultural cooperation.

They also expressed their readiness to combine China’s modern agricultural technologies with ASEAN’s agricultural resources to develop projects benefiting local communities.
The conference also featured side events on food security, modern agriculture, artificial intelligence, livestock and poultry cooperation, and agricultural product trade.

Participants visited the agricultural cooperation expo, an intelligent greenhouse facility at the Zhengzhou Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute and the Henan Museum.

Source: Khmer Times