The Chinese government highly values its agricultural technological cooperation with the US, and encourages companies of both sides to actively participate in Sino-US agricultural cooperation, said Vice Premier Hui Liangyu Tuesday.

Hui made the remarks in his meeting with Joseph Jen, under secretary of the US Department of Agriculture.

He said since the two countries signed an agreement on Sino-US agricultural technological cooperation in 2002, they have conducted fruitful cooperation in such fields as agricultural biological technology, food security, processing of agricultural products, etc.

The Chinese government supports the research organizations of both countries to establish a joint research center, and promote industrialization of agricultural achievements, Hui said.

The delegation, invited by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, is in Beijing to attend the fourth joint working group meeting of Sino-US agricultural cooperation, and a Sino-US forum on agricultural products processing and food security.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2005)