JointFrameworkonExpandingCooperation Between

TheAustralianGovernmentDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResourcesandtheMinistryofAgricultureofthePeople'sRepublicofChina

China-AustraliaJointAgriculturalCommission

RecognisingtheuniqueopportunitiespresentedbytheconclusionoftheChina-AustraliaFreeTradeAgreement(ChAFTA)tosupportenhancedeconomicintegrationandcooperationbetweenChinaandAustraliainagriculture,MinistersfromtheMinistryofAgricultureofthePeople'sRepublicof

China(MoA)andtheAustralianDepartmentofAgricultureandWaterResources(DAWR) (hereinafterreferredtoastheMinisters)haveagreedtopursuespecificcooperationinitiativesintheareasofscientificandeconomicresearchaimedatpromotingenhancedtradeandinvestmentopportunities.

WhilereaffirmingthecontinuingimportanceoftheAustralia-ChinaAgriculturalCooperation Agreement (ACACA),MinistersfrombothcountriesagreedtofurthercollaborationbetweenMoA andDAWRoverthenexttwoyears.Ministersrecognisecooperation throughjointlyfundedinitiativesandclosecollaborationininternationalforumswouldbeadditionaltothecooperationarrangementsbetweenMoAandDAWRestablishedundertheACACAprogram.MinistersalsoacknowledgethesenewinitiativesfitwithinthestrategicframeworkoftheexistingAustralia­ChinaAgriculturalCooperationAgreementbetweenMoAandDAWR.

AreasofcollaborationagreedbyMinistersinclude:

Cooperationonpreventionandcontroltechnicalresearchandregulatorysystemstomanagefruitfly andlocustsforthepurposeofpromotingmutualtradeoutcomesinhorticultureandsafetyofagriculturalproduction,including:

  • jointresearchonfruitflymonitoringandpreventionandcontroltechnologiesonpestsofmutualconcerntobothChinaandAustralia.
  • promoting short-termvisitsofplantprotectionandmanagementstafftovisiteachother'slaboratoriesandfield testareas.
  • jointresearchoninternationalstandardsoffruitflymonitoring,preventionandcontrolandquarantinesupervisiontosupportadvancementandadoptionoffruitflymeasuresininternationalforums.
  • technicalexchangesandcooperationonlocustmonitoring andsustainablemanagementtoprotectthesafetyofagriculturalproductionandfoodsecurity.

Cooperationonstrengtheningcommodityproductionandmarketresearchtosupportagricultural production,tradeandinvestment,throughtheresearchagenciesofDAWRandMoAandagriculturalresearchinstitutionsandagriculturaleconomicresearchinstitutionson:

  • jointresearchinitiativestoexpandbilateralunderstandingofdomesticagricultural productiondevelopments,enhancedcropforecastingandtrends.
  • promotingshort-termvisitsandplacementsofeconomicresearchstaffwithinourrespectiveagriculturaleconomicresearchagenciesto supportagreedproduction,tradeand investmentresearch.

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  • ajointstudyonbilateralinvestmentinagricultureandagriculturalmarketandregulatorypathwaysinfluencingeffectiveutilisationofChAFTA.
  • promotingcooperationonbeef(meatandlivestock)researchandtraining.

Ongoingdialogueaboutagriculturalpolicyandfoodsecuritytoshareexperiencesofreformstoimproveagriculturalinnovationandproductivityincluding:

  • Discussandshare experiencesondomesticagriculturechangesandhowtheyhave contributed to improving agricultural productivity.

CooperationonSustainableFisheriesManagementand researchonfisherystrategiesforkeystocksinthe region.

  • Acknowledgingthe importanceChinaandAustraliaplaceonsustainablemanagementofmigratorystocksintheregion,Ministersrecognisedasharedgoalofensuringsustainable managementofPacifictunafisheries andagreedtocollaborateonthefisheriesstrategiesforkeystocksintheregion.

ReaffirmedtheimportanceoftheAustralia-ChinaAgriculturalCooperationAgreementandtherevisedarrangementstobeputinplaceforthe2016-17fundingyear,and thekeystrategicareasoffocusfortheprogramduringthis time,including:

eCommerceinnovationAnimalhusbandry

ScienceandtechnologycooperationFoodsafety

SustainableagriculturaltechnologyTradeandinvestmentcooperation

Post-harveststorageandwasteCommodityproductionresearch

SanitaryandphytosanitarytrainingExplorationofnichemarketsAgriculturalproductsprocessing

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