国际英语新闻:APEC experts discuss agricultural technology

HO CHI MINH CITY, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Experts from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) started gathering in Vietnam's southern Can Tho city on Sunday to seek ways of promoting technology transfer in agricultural production.

The Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG), whose objective is enhancing agriculture's contribution to the Asia-Pacific region's economic growth and social well-being by promoting agricultural technical cooperation between APEC members, held a meeting as part of the APEC 2017 Food Security Week and the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Enhancing Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Response to Climate Change.

Gong Xifeng, head of the ATGWG and director general of the International Cooperation Department under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that agriculture makes a substantial economic contribution to most APEC member economies, and the issues of food security and safety are of critical importance to the region.

The ATGWG has centered on cooperation in agricultural technology to improve the capability of the APEC member economies in agricultural production and relevant sectors.

In the 2017-2018 period, the group will continue strengthening the criteria on food safety, dealing with challenges in food security, promoting sustainable application of bio-fuels in cultivation and hi-tech agriculture to mitigate climate change impacts, and speeding up technology transfer to develop a food value chain in the region.

This year, the ATCWG is conducting activities in response to APEC priorities aimed at implementing the Piura Declaration on Food Security, promote agricultural information sharing and cooperation in the region with regard to agricultural technology, and strengthen communications and capacity building in agricultural technology.

Also on Sunday in the city, the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology held a meeting to discuss biotechnology application in agriculture to adapt to climate change and promote sustainable development.