Many U.S. agricultural industry leaders have recently stressed the importance of cooperation with China, saying strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture would benefit global trade and sustainable development.

They shared their views at the US-China Agricultural Trade Cooperation Forum, held as part of the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs from November 5 to 10.

LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP

Jim Sutter, CEO of the US Soybean Export Council, the international marketing arm of US Soy, said China is a key trading partner and the relationship with China is “critically important.”

“US soybeans and many other commodity groups have had long-term collaborative relationships with China,” Sutter said, noting that in the case of US soybeans, China has been a partner for 42 years.

“We appreciate China’s leadership in opening up and promoting trade,” he said.

“Trade is of crucial importance for all our agricultural products. And we are happy that a country like China recognizes this and talks about it in a forum like the CIIE which is entirely dedicated to trade.”

The world’s first national-level import-focused exhibition, the CIIE has featured a section dedicated to U.S. food and agriculture companies since last year, with the aim of helping them explore the Chinese market.

This year, the section attracted 14 participants.

Impressively, in the first hour of operation, the total turnover reached US$600 million, according to data from the American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai).

“China is our largest and most important market,” said Allisa Lau, China director of the Cotton Council International, a nonprofit trade association that promotes American cotton fiber and products, while discussing ties long-standing relationship between China and the United States in the cotton sector. industry.

The Chinese and US cotton industries have maintained very close cooperation over the years, not only due to their interdependence, but also their mutually beneficial and supportive relationship, Lau said.

TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

At the forum, many speakers shared similar views that despite the changing global landscape, agricultural cooperation between China and the United States remains beneficial for the two countries to move towards a path of more sustainable development.

Janna Fritz, vice president of the US Soybean Export Council, described the strong Sino-US relations in the soybean industry as a “beacon of hope and strength” for global agriculture.The mutually beneficial ties have influenced agricultural practices and lifestyles in both countries, she said.

China’s growing demand for high-quality, sustainable crops has set high standards for soybean purchases in terms of quality and sustainability, Fritz said.

She said U.S. soybean farmers “understand this mission” and will continue to help China achieve its ambitious sustainability goals.

Also considering the enormous potential for cooperation, Steve Reinhard, Chairman of the United Soybean Board, said that China has entered a stage of high-quality development as it strives to meet the population’s growing needs for products. high quality.

“Our commitment to sustainable development could be a new productive force for Chinese partners to contribute to China’s high-quality development,” Reinhard said.

To facilitate this growing partnership, CIIE has led by example in connecting U.S. agricultural businesses with long-term Chinese partners.

According to AmCham Shanghai, American companies continued to win orders even after participating in last year’s expo, and the cumulative turnover of these orders has now reached $3 billion.

At the opening ceremony of this year’s expo, Chinese Premier Li Qiang reaffirmed the country’s commitment to “transforming its huge market into global opportunities.”

He said in his opening speech that the country has fully implemented all opening-up measures announced during the previous six CIIEs and will continue to expand market access to more sectors.

Ryan LeGrand, president and CEO of the US Grains Council, said agricultural trade is a “bright spot” in the complex relationship between the United States and China.

“I think it’s entirely possible that our ideological differences set a ceiling on our relationship, that trade sets a floor on our relationship,” LeGrand said, noting that agricultural trade, in particular, helps “set this floor and to maintain these foundations”.

“When trade works, the world wins. And I think that certainly applies to the U.S.-China relationship,” he said.