Successful start of the 1st Sino-German Agribusiness Forum on „Mechanisation and Modern Farming“ in Beijing

The first Sino-German Agribusiness Forum with a focus on Mechanisation and Modern Farming took place in Beijing on April 25th. Around 100 high-lelvel experts from business and politics attended the one-day event. The Sino-German agribusiness forum is a project under the umbrella of the German-Sino Agricultural Center (DCZ). The main objective of the Agribusiness Forum is to provide information about technologies and political framework conditions and to help share experiences and best practice solutions. The Agribusiness Forum is also a great opportunity to come together and to make valuable contacts.

Welcoming speeches were given by Mr. Yi, Director General of the Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC), Mrs. Püster, Counsellor at the German Embassy in Beijing and Mr. Tipp, Head of International Projects for the host organisation German Agricultural Society (DLG). 

Subsequently, keynote speeches were presented by Mr. Liang, Deputy Director General of the Department for Farm Mechanisation at the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture as well as Mr. Mainardi, Chairman of VDMA’s Agricultural Machinery China Management Group. Mr. Liang presented the 13th five-year plan and its priorities and targets with regard to mechanisation and rural development. According to his presentation, Germany is a strategic partner concerning agricultural development. 

The following programme consisted of three major parts. Firstly, German and Chinese public and private institutions presented training concepts. A German company presented their approach of training and the advantages of the German dual vocational education system. The second part of the event was a discussion by a German and a Chinese farmer. Thirdly, Chinese and German companies presented their experiences of cooperation’s and investments with European and Chinese partners. 

The final discussion was summarised by Managing Director Mr. Graf von Hoyos of the German-Sino Agricultural Center. Chinese agricultural machinery companies are very interested in knowledge and technology transfer from German agribusiness companies. German companies on the other hand are eager to invest and develop the Chinese market to sell their products and services. There is a common interest for collaboration in the field of education and practical training of farmers.