The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences today agreed on Monday to strengthen cooperation and boost the capacity and sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in developing countries, FAO said in a statement.
"In fisheries and aquaculture China is the biggest in almost everything," said Arni M. Mathiesen, FAO's Assistant Director-General for Fisheries and Aquaculture, at the signing of the accord with CAFS President Wang XiaoHu at FAO's headquarters in Rome.
"Therefore, it really goes without saying that cooperation with CAFS is a great asset for FAO," Mathieson said.
The new partnership will advance technology transfer and capacity development between developing countries and promote joint efforts to advance global sustainable fisheries and aquaculture management, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, said the statement.
Under the accord, FAO and CAFS will facilitate joint seminars and workshops, information exchange and the transfer of technology, the statement said.
The partners will also support initiatives to promote climate impact mitigation and adaption and help build the resilience of fishers and others working in the sector while strengthening efforts to increase the regulation and safety of fish products for regional and global trade.
South-South and Triangular Cooperation - which involves third countries and other partners - has been effective in creating jobs, building infrastructure and promoting trade, the statement underlined.
Through these types of cooperation, FAO has facilitated exchanges of technical experience and know-how by sending over 2,000 experts and technicians to over 80 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North Africa and elsewhere over the past 20 years.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme , which has benefited more than 70 000 people directly in 12 developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
Since FAO and China set up the SSC Programme in 2009, Chinese experts have shared their knowledge and technologies with farmers in Africa and Asia to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability in cereal production, animal husbandry, fisheries and aquaculture, and other areas, the statement noted.
