First batch of 12 Chinese young farmers visits EU on exchange program

TALLINN, April 27 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of 12 Chinese young professional farmers for a China-EU exchange program ended their 14-day trip to Europe on Friday for agricultural expertise and capacity building.

"Both EU's and China's agriculture is facing challenges in the 21st century," said Antonia Moreno, head of Unit A4-Asia and Australia, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, at the closing meeting of the young farmers' study tour.

"For example, more than 50 percent of our farmer population is above 55 years old. This is crucial, and young farmers are the key for vitalizing agriculture with elements of policy support by policy-makers to make agriculture competitive and sustainable," Moreno said.

She expected the positive people-to-people exchange program to achieve positive results and enhance EU-China cooperation.

Illar Lemetti, Secretary General of Estonian Ministry of Rural Affairs, said that Estonia welcomes the Chinese young farmers to enjoy Estonian food and countryside.

"We share our experience and achievements in agriculture for your domestic practice," Lemetti said.

Luo Ming, head of the Chinese delegation and an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said the delegation members were impressed by the trip to Belgium, Britain and Estonia with modern agriculture business in Western Europe and the agricultural development in Eastern Europe, which will be modified and applied in accordance with the Chinese local circumstance.

He said that the key of China's rural vitalization strategy was talents and the China-EU exchange program of young farmers to share knowledge and farming experience came at the right time for cooperation in the agricultural sector.

Chosen from 11 Chinese provinces and regions, the 12 Chinese young farmers is knowledgeable with business and management expertise in various sectors of tropic fruit planting, flower cultivating, aquaculture, poultry, warehouse and distribution, as well as agricultural training among others.

Announced in April 2017, the project is co-funded by EU and China, and will last for 18 months. It comprises two study tours in China for European young farmers, and two study tours in Europe for Chinese young farmers and young professionals in agriculture. Enditem