On the morning of October 13, the 2025 China (Henan)–ASEAN Grain and Agricultural Cooperation Development Conference and the 4th “Belt and Road” (Henan) International Agricultural Cooperation Expo opened in Zhengzhou. Liu Ning, Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, attended and delivered a speech. Shi Zhongjun, Secretary-General of the China–ASEAN Center, and Maimaitiming Mugaidi, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, also spoke at the event. Governor Wang Kai presided over the opening ceremony.
Secretary-General Shi Zhongjun extended warm congratulations on the opening of the conference. He noted that China and ASEAN countries are geographically close and share deep historical and cultural ties. Agricultural cooperation, he said, is one of the most fundamental, long-standing, and promising areas in bilateral relations, and recent years have seen fruitful achievements. Henan, known as “China’s granary,” leads the world in seed breeding, grain storage, food processing, and agricultural machinery technology. Shi expressed hope that the conference would send a strong signal of partnership, build a pragmatic and high-level dialogue platform, explore mutually beneficial projects, and promote cooperation in areas such as smart agriculture, efficient supply chains, policy communication, and capacity building. He emphasized that the China–ASEAN Center will continue to act as a “bridge” and “booster” to facilitate and support agricultural cooperation, working together with Henan and ASEAN partners to deepen collaboration and contribute to building a closer China–ASEAN community with a shared future.
Vice Minister Maimaitiming Mugaidi stated that China and ASEAN are comprehensive strategic partners sharing a common destiny and mutual interests. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and ASEAN leaders, cooperation in agriculture has achieved remarkable progress, with stronger partnerships, deeper technological exchanges, closer personnel interactions, and more prosperous agricultural trade. He emphasized that agriculture, as a fundamental industry, is vital to food security, social stability, and economic prosperity. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to deepen cooperation, share technologies and experiences, and promote safer, greener, smarter, and more resilient agricultural development. He called for greater coordination in planning, stronger consensus on collaboration, expansion of cooperation areas, and increased technological empowerment to improve efficiency and productivity.
In his address, Liu Ning welcomed the guests on behalf of the Henan Provincial Party Committee and Government and expressed gratitude for their long-term support for Henan’s development. He said that Henan is earnestly implementing President Xi Jinping’s important instructions during his inspection tour of the province, focusing on building a modern industrial system, strengthening agriculture, improving people’s livelihoods, enhancing social governance, protecting the environment, and promoting cultural prosperity. As one of the cradles of China’s agricultural civilization and a key region ensuring national food security, Henan is committed to following a development path suited to its realities. Liu expressed the hope that this conference would serve as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation with other countries, strengthen food security, expand agricultural trade, advance agricultural science and technology, and promote cultural exchanges, contributing new vitality to building a closer China–ASEAN community and a high-quality Belt and Road partnership.
At the conference, Muzakir Manaf, Governor of Indonesia’s Aceh Province; Bobo Kyaw, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation of Myanmar; Tutiyati, Permanent Secretary of Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism; and Hong Nari, Deputy Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, delivered speeches. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn addressed the conference via video. Cheng Guoqiang, Dean of the National Food Security Strategy Research Institute of Renmin University of China; Academicians Luo Xiwen and Chen Xuegeng of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; and Arif Satria, President of Bogor Agricultural University (Indonesia), also gave remarks.
During the event, the China (Henan)–ASEAN Smart Agriculture Demonstration Center and the China (Henan)–ASEAN Agricultural Universities Science and Technology Innovation Network were officially launched. A total of 21 major projects were signed, covering areas such as grain production, agricultural technology, and agricultural product trade.
Before the opening ceremony, Shi Zhongjun, Maimaitiming Mugaidi, and Wang Kai toured the exhibition halls.
The conference gathered representatives from national ministries, other provinces, ASEAN embassies and consulates in China, provincial leaders, international experts, scholars, business associations, and enterprise representatives.
With the theme “Digital Empowerment for Agricultural Cooperation and Innovation-Driven Regional Development,” the three-day conference will feature high-level dialogues, thematic seminars, and business matchmaking events.