Vice Minister Yamashita's 11th APEC Food Security Meeting Trip

A press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Yamashita traveled to China from August 23 to August 27, Reiwa 8, and attended the 11th APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting. At the meeting, he introduced Japan's efforts to revitalize rural areas using digital technologies, and a joint statement and principles document were adopted.

The joint statement indicated a direction for accelerating the transformation and strengthening of innovation-driven agricultural and food systems to respond to extreme weather, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions and other challenges. It promotes cooperation to improve agricultural productivity through AI, biotechnology and public-private partnerships, as well as cooperation concerning fisheries and aquaculture, trade, and the sustainable development of rural areas.

The meeting was held in Hangzhou, China, from August 24 to August 25, Reiwa 8, and discussions addressed the future of sustainable agricultural and food systems. Vice Minister Yamashita stated the need to strengthen agricultural and food systems and revitalize rural and fishing communities in light of disasters, conflicts and climate change.

In rural and fishing communities, efforts are being advanced in cooperation with private companies and relevant government ministries and agencies to increase income and create employment by using local resources, while ensuring convenience in daily life. Expanding the number of diverse people from outside rural areas who have ties to rural communities was also deemed important.

Views were exchanged with senior Singaporean government officials on strengthening cooperation in the agricultural and other fields. In Hangzhou and Shanghai, discussions were held with local import trading companies and supermarket managers, among others, about the handling status and challenges of Japanese agricultural, forestry, fishery products and food. Facilities related to Japanese companies and an international fisheries exposition were also inspected.