On September 20, 2021, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Run to the Dominican Republic published a signed article on Las Mundiales, the largest local newspaper, a signed article entitled “China the Dominican Republic Enjoy Bright Prospect for Agricultural Cooperation”. The full article runs as follows:
On September 14, the Chinese side signed the donation certificate with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic on the Programa de Control y Erradicación de Fiebre Porcina Africana, marking yet another outcome in bilateral cooperation.
Controlling the African swine fever is an international challenge. Since June, the epidemic of African swine fever has spread in the Dominican Republic. Effective response has come from various parties, but it has still wreaked havoc on agricultural production and inflicted huge losses on peasants concerned.
Despite the vast distance between us, the Chinese government and people have followed the African swine fever with great concern. As pointed out by President Xi Jinping, humanity is an integral whole and the Earth is our common home. Facing common challenges, no person or country can stand alone. The only way out is for us to work together like passengers on the same boat. It is in this spirit that the Chinese side decided to make the donation to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic.
Over the past three years since the two countries established diplomatic relations, there have been fruitful outcomes in bilateral agricultural cooperation. The two sides have signed the agreement on inspection and quarantine concerning the export of cigar tobacco and avocados from the Dominican Republic to China. The exports of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic to China have maintained a double-digit growth rate. Tens of thousands of “Dominican made” cigars have entered the Chinese market and proved widely popular with the Chinese consumers. Coffee and rum from the Dominican Republic have also started to enter the Chinese market with bright prospects. Hunan Province of China has signed MoU on agricultural cooperation with the Dominican side. The sugar cane harvesters donated by the Chinese company Zoomlion have been put into operation. The Seminar on Hybrid Rice and Agricultural Skills Training attracted the attendance of 34 agricultural experts from the Dominican side.
China appreciates that the Dominican Republic has always attached great importance to the fundamental role of agriculture on the overall development of the country and will continue to take agricultural cooperation as an important part of bilateral practical cooperation by strengthening collaboration and communication for the benefit of people of the two countries. The two sides could explore and expand agricultural cooperation from the following perspectives:
First, we should continue to strengthen cooperation on swine fever epidemic control. China has certain experience on swine fever control and stands ready to share our experience and technologies with the Dominican side. We will provide support to the best of our ability according to real needs through bilateral or multilateral channels.
Second, we will continue to facilitate the export of a variety of agricultural products from the Dominican Republic to China. We will work together to translate existing agreements into real exports and improve the popularity of many featured Dominican products in China. We welcome the recommendation of more quality products from the Dominican side to the Chinese market and sign more agreements on the inspection and quarantine of Dominican farm produce to China.
Third, we should continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation on agricultural technologies. China will host a series of webinars for micro E-business owners in the Dominican Republic and for agricultural technology training. We are also open for cooperation in areas such as rice, green-house vegetables, Juncao grass and bamboo industry, among others.
