On November 18, an online matchmaking meeting was held between Ningxia and the German Embassy in China to enhance cooperation in agriculture, forestry and fishery. Attendees include representatives from the Ningxia Foreign Affairs Office (NXFAO), Ningxia Agriculture and Rural Affairs Department, Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ningxia Fisheries Research Institute, the German Embassy in China and the Thünen Institute.

During the meeting, participants exchanged views on how to promote international cooperation between China and Germany in agriculture, forestry and fishery after briefings of their experiences in academic research, team building, project management, and the favorable resources and conditions they each possess. These productive talks laid a solid foundation for the two sides to further strengthen communication and advance cooperation.

The Thünen Institute is a federal research institute specializing in agriculture, forestry and fishery under the auspices of the German Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Consisting of 15 specialized institutes, it boasts expertise in a wide array of fields including socioeconomics, ecology, and technology and also provides vital policy advice. The Thünen Institute has already established long-term forestry cooperation with Yunnan Province. Dr. Matthias Dieter, Head of Institute of Forestry, noted that, through online exchanges, he has learnt that Ningxia boasts distinctive ecological features and prominent advantages in developing agriculture, forestry and fishery, thus there is enormous potential for bilateral cooperation in this regard. He also expressed willingness to maintain contact with Ningxia and jointly tap into more areas of cooperation.

Going Forward, the NXFAO will continue to leverage its strengths to enhance Ningxia’s international economic cooperation in various sectors as well as the “going global” and “inviting in” of relevant parties. Efforts will be stepped up to help Ningxia better integrate itself into the Belt and Road Initiative and embrace greater openness as an inland region, so as to pursue higher-quality development and higher-standard international cooperation.