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China Projects Agricultural Power at Obscure Meeting

China projected its world leadership in agriculture at the 10th agricultural ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Kunming July 30, 2025. 

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun bragged about China's "historic achievements" in feeding its population, building itself into an "agricultural power," and victory in the "largest poverty alleviation battle in human history." Minister Han added prestige to the normally obscure annual meeting by citing Xi Jinping's endorsement of two SCO projects--an agricultural training demonstration base and a forum on poverty reduction.

Several ministers attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's
meeting of agriculture ministers. Source: China Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

In addition to the usual focus on training and poverty alleviation at these meetings, Minister Han highlighted China's efforts to play an influential role in agricultural trade and cooperation by stressing China's "high level opening", its diversification of agricultural export and import trading partners, and its growing role in global food and agricultural governance. Minister Han promised that China will improve multilateral and bilateral sharing of policy information; build an international platform for agricultural technology and personnel exchanges; lead market-opening efforts, open channels for investment, expand agricultural product promotion, promote trade in services and promote trade facilitation measures.

The show put on by China was unusual for this typically small anonymous meeting discussing agricultural technology and training. The SCO only has 10 members. The only agriculture ministers at this year's meeting were from China, Iran, Tajikistan, Belarus, and India's joint secretary--a retired minister. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Uzbekistan were represented by vice-ministers, and Pakistan sent its Chengdu Consul General. "Dialogue partners" Myanmar and Cambodia were represented by vice ministers. 

China has not put a high priority on this meeting in past years. China was represented by vice ministers to each of the last three SCO agricultural minister meetings. (China's ag minister was removed for corruption during the month last year's meeting was held.)

The last two meetings were online affairs hosted by Kazakhstan in a small conference room last year and by China the year before. In 2022, a joint Action Plan with the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization was signed at the meeting. A couple of roundtables discussing agricultural technology and modernization have been held.

Last year's meeting was hosted online from a conference room
in Kazakhstan. Source: Shanghai Cooperation Organization.


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