BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu called on all
countries to enhance cooperation to ensure food security in his meeting with
French agricultural minister on Sunday, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture said
on Monday.
"The key to resolving the food security issue is to take effective and
comprehensive measures, coordinate actions and strengthen cooperation among all
countries in the world, based on the principle of common development," Hui told
Michel Barnier, French minister for agriculture and fisheries who is here to
attend relevant activities of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Hui said the Chinese government attached great importance to agricultural
production, and has increased its grain output for four consecutive years so
far, which contributed to world food security.
He said agricultural cooperation between China and France has seen
remarkable achievements in recent years, and he hoped the two sides would
earnestly implement the bilateral joint statement on strengthening agricultural
cooperation to further promote comprehensive development of China-France
agricultural cooperation.
Hui also expressed his gratitude to the French government's assistance to
China over the strong earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province.
Barnier said France was ready to make joint efforts with China to
continuously promote agricultural cooperation between the two countries.