(Zhao Yu/Xinhua Daily)

The launch event and workshop on the implementation of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative for Pacific Island countries was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province on October 16.

Representatives from eight Pacific Island nations - Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu - along with those from Chinese government departments, research institutions and enterprises attended the event.

This event was co-hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the China-Pacific Island Countries Agriculture Cooperation and Demonstration Center, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of the Solomon Islands, and was organized by Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

In 2021, the FAO launched the OCOP Initiative to support the member countries in transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable through the sustainable development of special agricultural products (SAPs). In May 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Jiangsu Provincial Government jointly established the China-Pacific Island Countries Agriculture Cooperation and Demonstration Center. Over the past year, the center has engaged in extensive cooperation with Pacific Island nations, focusing on technical training, research collaboration, and building pilot cooperation zones.

The event features an exhibition of special agricultural products, while FAO representatives introduced the progress and achievements of the OCOP initiative worldwide. Representatives from several countries also shared their experiences in implementing the initiative and outlined their needs for further cooperation.

During the seven-day event, participants will engage in discussions on agricultural cooperation, technologies, and management. They will also conduct field visits to agricultural enterprises and rural revitalization demonstration sites in Jiangsu, exploring inclusive, practical and wide-reaching cooperation plans.