The atmosphere during the visit was relaxed and informal, and it provided the perfect opportunity to become better acquainted with each other. The contacts of FiBL with China have developed good prospects. Several projects, in which FiBL is involved, are already being developed. First and foremost, a joint research centre for crop agriculture will be established in China. Another joint research institute for organic production and utilization of traditional medicinal plants will be initiated at the end of this year.
The ambassador showed great interest in those topics and promised to support these activities on the Chinese side. As a sign of mutual understanding and his support on the value of the organic production and food safety, the ambassador will organize the creation of a small organic vegetable garden on the grounds of the Chinese embassy, for which he invited the help of FiBL experts.
The Chinese government intends to support the ecological agriculture in China. So the collaboration of FiBL with Chinese institutions will have a great influence on the future of food production in the world’s largest agricultural area and will strengthen FiBL as a world-leading organic research institute.
FiBL director Niggli explained that the strategy to build up such joint research in combination with FiBL’s world-leading organic expertise and Chinese first-class scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences will influence the Chinese agricultural development.
The FiBL director and his delegation Mrs Beate Huber, Dr Lucius Tamm, Dr Qiyan Wang-Müller, Dr Jacques Fuchs and Mr Paul van den Berge delegation appreciated the ambassador’s warm reception and hospitality. The ambassador and the FiBL director both believe that a practical collaboration will be achieved by the shared belief in the value of sustainable development.
Further information
FiBL contact
Urs Niggli, FiBL Switzerland
Qiyan Wang-Müller, FiBL Switzerland
Links
china-embassy.org: Website of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Switzerland