On 6 November, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov took part in the opening of the forum on eco-friendly agriculture and food security as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. The event was held on the sidelines of the Third China International Import EXPO.
Mr Norov said that the COVID-19 pandemic had compelled the international community to focus its concerted efforts on overcoming the negative consequences of the virus both in the epidemiological and socioeconomic areas. He noted that strengthening food security was necessary for maintaining stability and the sustainable development of society.
He emphasised that under the current conditions, the SCO member countries intend to focus on the effective implementation of cooperation on a joint programme for food security.
In this context, Mr Norov emphasised the importance of further promoting cooperation between the SCO and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) under the bilateral memorandum of understanding.
He discussed the need to continue the joint work on unifying phytosanitary standards and requirements, removing excessive customs barriers and creating an integrated network of commodity inspections, tests and certificates in the SCO countries.
The participants were also informed about the SCO's current activities on improving the legal regulations as part of the upgraded programme for multilateral trade and economic development in the SCO countries, and the practical exchange and introduction of agricultural innovation, in part, by creating an SCO demonstration data base on the exchange and acquisition of agriculture technology based on the Yangling Agricultural Hi-tech Industries Demonstration Zone in Shaanxi Province.
This event took place with the support of the Chinese People's Society of Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The Secretariat's delegation visited Shanghai to attend the Third China International Import EXPO on 4-6 November 2020.