Chinese vice premier urges more agricultural cooperation among BRICS

Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has called for deeper agricultural cooperation among the BRICS group of emerging economies, according to a press statement released Monday by the Chinese State Council. Hui made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the second agricultural ministers conference of BRICS. The conference, focusing on agriculture and agrarian development, was held in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, over the weekend of Oct. 30 and 31. Hui asked BRICS members to prioritize agricultural development, especially food production. The five countries involved in BRICS should promote information and policy exchange to build up a long-term, stable, practical, and efficient cooperative working mechanism, Hui said. Hui suggested the countries develop their agricultural production sustainably and scientifically coping with new challenges. The vice premier said BRICS should base the development of the biomass energy industry on the premise of safeguarding global food safety. He asked the five countries to strengthen their communication and coordination concerning important food and agriculture issues and set up equal, rational and stable trading systems. Hui also called on international organizations and developed countries to offer technology help and funds to developing countries to enhance food and agricultural production capacity and guarantee food safety. The conference saw the agricultural ministers of the five countries pass a 2012-2016 action plan for agricultural cooperation, and sign a joint declaration on the issue. BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.