By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com
China and New Zealand agree to share agriculture knowledge under a new bilateral agreement that the two countries signed on Wednesday. The deal called the “Strategic Plan on Promoting Agricultural Cooperation” was given approval by New Zealand Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy and visiting Chinese Minister of Agriculture, Han Changfu.
Guy says that the agreement will encourage cooperation and sharing of knowledge that will be mutually beneficial. The details of the agreement are vague, but some of the key aspects include animal welfare and science on how to increase agricultural productivity. The agreement will expire in 2017.
Since New Zealand signed a bilateral free trade agreement with China in 2008, it has almost tripled exports to China - accounting for 1.69 billion U.S. dollars in 2012. The two countries are already involved in a number of business ventures, including dairy giant Fonterra, which is looking to expand its dairy operations in China.