China-Pacific Island Countries Juncao Technology Demonstration Center unveiled

The China-Pacific Island Countries Juncao Technology Demonstration Center (CPICJTDC) was unveiled on March 22, 2023. Vice-chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) Tang Wenhong and Minister of Agriculture and Waterways of Fiji Vatimi Rayalu attended and addressed the unveiling ceremony.

Tang noted that Juncao technology is a successful practice of applying China's poverty reduction experience to global sustainable development. Up till now, the technology has landed in over 100 countries and become a brand for China's foreign aid. Since the implementation of the cooperation project of Juncao technology in Fiji in 2014, the Juncao technology demonstration center in Fiji has become the largest of its kind in the Pacific region, with more than 600 local farmer households participating in the growing of Juncao, and more than 1,000 households benefiting from the total planting area of over 7,000 mu (1,153 acres).

In 2022, during his visit to Pacific island countries, then Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced the plan to establish the CPICJTDC. It is based on the successful experience of the China-Fiji cooperation in Juncao technology that the CPICJTDC has been successfully established in Fiji.

Tang said that in recent years, the comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development between China and Pacific island countries has been moving forward and achieving fruitful results, setting a good example of South-South cooperation and mutual benefit.

He pledged that China is ready to take this unveiling ceremony as an opportunity to offer any assistance within its means to Fiji and other Pacific island countries to achieve sustainable development under the principle of prioritizing development and with focus on key areas. Specifically, China is willing to deepen cooperation by carrying out "small yet smart" projects in fields related to people's livelihoods, such as agriculture and poverty reduction, medical and health care, culture and education and social development; actively align development visions, with a focus on new areas such as climate change, digital innovation and green development; and strengthen knowledge assistance, and share China's experience in poverty reduction, socioeconomic development and ecological protection, so as to transform and upgrade China's cooperation with Fiji and other Pacific island countries. He also called for more Pacific island countries to join the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, and jointly promote the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Noting that Juncao is a product that works quickly, has a long beneficial period, and yields high profits, Rayalu extended his appreciation to the Chinese government for introducing Juncao technology to Fiji in 2014, which enriched local food, provided new employment opportunities for local people and offered new solutions to climate change.

In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture of Fiji has worked with the Juncao project team and organized 44 training sessions with over 1,700 participants. Going forward, efforts will be made to commercialize mushroom production, support young women to use Juncao as animal food, and promote the technology to other Pacific island countries. He emphasized that Juncao can be a great solution to soil erosion and desertification, effectively respond to natural disasters and food crises, become an important supplement to traditional farming, and contribute to the empowerment of young women.

He once again thanked the Chinese government for sharing successful experience of Juncao growing, extended his welcome and support for the establishment of the center in Fiji, and pledged to work with all Pacific island countries to continue to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring food security and a resilient food system, to strengthen regional cooperation and bring benefits to people in all the Pacific island countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian, Assistant Minister for the Prime Minister's Office of Fiji Sakiusa Tubuna, ambassadors of Pacific island countries to Fiji, including Kiribati, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu, and representatives from the United Nations agencies in Fiji and the Pacific island countries attended the ceremony.