On 21 November 2024, the ASEAN-Henan (Zhengzhou) Cooperation Conference on Food and Agriculture was successfully held in Henan Province, China, hosted by the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) in cooperation with the Zhengzhou Municipal People's Government, the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Henan Province and the Food and Strategic Research Administration of Henan Province.

The ACC Secretary General Shi Zhongjun attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Minister Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad bin Sabu of Agriculture and Food Security of Malaysia, Union Minister U Min Naung of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn of ASEAN (video speech), Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune of the Lao PDR to China, Ambassador Pehin Dato Rahmani of Brunei Darussalam to China, Ambassador U Tin Maung Swe of Myanmar to China, Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz of the Philippines to China, Ambassador Peter Tan of Singapore to China, Ambassador Soeung Rathchavy of Cambodia to China and other diplomats and representatives from the embassies of ASEAN Member States (AMS) were invited to grace the ceremony. Governor Wang Kai of Henan Province, Ambassador Yu Hong of the Asian Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of China and representatives from the China International Development Cooperation Agency, Ministry of Commerce were also invited to attend the event, and over 500 participants including Henan local government officials, business associations of China and ASEAN countries and enterprises presented.

Shi Zhongjun stated that both China and ASEAN Member States (AMS) are active participants and important contributors to regional and global food security. ASEAN has become China’s largest trading partner for agricultural products, while China is the largest export market for agricultural products from several ASEAN countries. Over the past three decades, the two sides have signed more than 40 bilateral cooperation agreements, established 8 bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and implemented over 300 agriculture-related projects on technical cooperation in such areas as science and technology, poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, showcasing the vibrant vitality and huge potential of agricultural cooperation between the two sides. Known as one of the national grain barns, Henan enjoys prominent geographical advantage, and owns leading production capacity of agriculture-related machinery in China, with leading tractors and other supporting agricultural machinery output, indicating substantial potential for food and agriculture cooperation with AMS. It is aspired that Henan will actively build the Conference into a comprehensive platform, so as to promote the whole-process agricultural cooperation with high quality. The ACC is always ready to explore innovative models of ASEAN-China food and agriculture cooperation, including to promote sustainable, green, low-carbon and smart agriculture, which would enrich the ASEAN-China comprehensive strategic partnership and achieve inclusive and sustainable development in the region.

Kao Kim Hourn stressed that ASEAN and China not only share a rich agricultural heritage, but also be a profound responsibility to ensure food security for growing populations in the region. The two sides should increase investment in agricultural research and technological innovation, explore joint research and development programs, promote organic agriculture, precision agriculture and agroecology, strengthen regional agricultural cooperation networks, so as to jointly improve the capacity of farmers and agricultural enterprises, and promote agricultural productivity and quality of agricultural products. Now, ASEAN is actively shaping its post 2025 agenda with agricultural sustainability in food security as central pillars, and is ready to work with China on strengthening regional food security and sustainable development to protect the natural resources, enhance agricultural resilience and meet the growing demands of the peoples.

Wang Kai said that Henan is the main origin of China's agricultural civilization. In the new era, Henan is committed to implementing the strategy of becoming a strong agricultural province and has played a pivotal role in China's national food security. He reiterated that Henan will continue to make full use of its advantages in agriculture and food production, share experience with ASEAN countries, deepen cooperation in agroindustry and create more new highlights of cooperation in areas such as agricultural machinery, grain breeding, storage and logistics, agricultural technology and joint training of talents, so as to promote the agricultural modernization of both sides.

The AMS participants expressed their willingness to further deepen food and agriculture cooperation with local provinces in China, and expected Henan to take advantage of its position as a leading food and agriculture province in China to promote ASEAN-China agricultural trade and investment, agricultural cooperation along the industrial chain, and ASEAN agricultural modernization with high quality.

During the conference, the heads of the agricultural departments of the Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia promoted the current agricultural development of their countries and explained their key cooperation needs. After active and precise negotiations among the enterprises, 16 pairs of enterprises from China and ASEAN countries successfully signed contracts with a total value of more than 10 billion yuan. 

Before the Conference, the participants also visited the Henan Food and Agricultural Products Exhibition with great interest, accompanied by the leaders of Henan Province. They also visited the core food and agricultural enterprises in Henan such as Wanbang International Agricultural Products Logistics Co, Ltd and Sanquan Food Co, Ltd.