The ROK and the PRC Agree on Expansion of Cooperation with Regard to Agriculture and Rural Communities

Sejong, 9 August 2025 — With the 10th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM) and the 4th Trilateral Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting to be held on 10 and 11 August, respectively, in Incheon, H.E. Song Miryung, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea (ROK) met with H.E. Han Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 9 August in Incheon. Both sides discussed the ways to expand bilateral cooperation with regard to agriculture and rural communities, as well as the ways to resume agricultural exchanges.

Minister Song Miryung and Minister Han Jun have much in common in that they are leading experts in rural development and have rich experiences both in research and policy areas. The two ministers engaged in in-depth discussions on the cooperation of systematically and closely connecting farming fields and policies. At the meeting, they shared their own experiences and know-how in rural development and agreed on medium- and long-term and more constructive cooperation.

The bilateral meeting has served as a valued opportunity for the two nations to pave a new way to restore a partnership in the field of agriculture that has been stagnant for years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, diplomatic conditions, etc., as well as to resume cooperation that can move forward. Importantly, both sides have reached a consensus on resuming the Director General-Level Agricultural Cooperation Committee between the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China, which has been suspended since 2018, and thus expanding the exchanges of agricultural policies, agricultural technologies, researchers, etc. 

Minister Song Miryung of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of the ROK and Minister Han Jun of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the PRC have agreed on the need to expand smart-farming cooperation, collaborative research, and the exchanges of researchers, as a way to respond to digital transformation and climate change. Under this consensus, both sides have agreed to strengthen cooperation to ensure that the two nations can have a voice together on the international stage such as the APEC, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, etc. Both sides have also agreed to share experiences on policies to conserve the value of agricultural heritage systems, as well as to further cement the foundation for cooperation through international academic conferences, etc.

Minister Song Miryung said: “The Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China are important partners to each other that are geographically close and complementary in the field of agriculture. I hope that this meeting will serve as a significant opportunity to take the bilateral cooperation with regard to agriculture and rural communities to the next level.”