As part of his visit to China, Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH) Alois Rainer visited the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ) in Beijing on 18 June 2026. He was accompanied by a high-ranking delegation from the BMLEH.
The visit marked a significant milestone for the DCZ: for the first time since its establishment in 2015, the Centre welcomed a German Federal Minister of Agriculture.
The delegation was received by Michaela Boehme, Managing Director of the DCZ, as well as senior representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and its Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC). Participants included WU Changxue, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation of MARA, MA Zhigang, Vice Director of FECC, and WANG Geng, Head of the Division of European and Central Asian Affairs at FECC and Chinese Team Leader of the DCZ.
During the visit, both DCZ Managing Directors presented the development of the DCZ and highlighted its key activities and achievements over the past years. Particular emphasis was placed on the Centre’s contribution to fostering agricultural policy dialogue, professional exchange, and networking among stakeholders from government, academia, and industry in both countries.
Minister Rainer emphasized the importance of the DCZ as a central platform for Sino-German agricultural cooperation. He underlined the value of continuous exchange between Germany and China in addressing shared challenges in agriculture, food systems, and rural development, while creating opportunities for mutual learning and cooperation.
The Minister also informed participants about the planned signing of a Joint Declaration of Intent between the BMLEH and MARA. The agreement is intended to provide the foundation for the continuation of the DCZ and to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector.
The visit highlights the importance both countries attach to the Sino-German agricultural dialogue and sends a strong signal for the continuation of the successful cooperation within the framework of the DCZ.
