On July 1, Prof. Sun Tan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), met with a delegation led by Mr. Donal Brown, Associate Vice-President, Department for Country Operations, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The two sides exchanged views on further deepening South-South cooperation.

Prof. Sun noted that CAAS and IFAD share closely aligned visions and goals. The two sides have made steady progress in monitoring and evaluating global and China-based projects, knowledge sharing, and South-South cooperation. They have also advanced concrete technical cooperation in Lao PDR, Kenya, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and other countries, demonstrating considerable potential for future collaboration.

Prof. Sun proposed that the two sides further elevate their cooperation, improve the cooperation mechanism, and establish a regular coordination mechanism. He also proposed jointly developing flagship South-South cooperation projects and expanding technological innovation and extension across the agricultural value chain in Africa, so as to contribute to sustainable agricultural development in the Global South.

Mr. Brown spoke highly of CAAS's achievements in South-South cooperation and cooperation with Africa. He expressed IFAD's readiness to establish a long-term strategic partnership with CAAS. He noted that the two sides should leverage their respective strengths, respond to the urgent needs of countries in the Global South, precisely match resources with demand, and carry out cooperation in targeted areas to achieve deeper and more substantive results.

Ms. Reehana Rifat Raza, Regional Director, Asia and the Pacific Division, IFAD; Ms. Ni Hua, IFAD Representative in China; and representatives from the Department of International Cooperation of CAAS attended the meeting.