China, ASEAN explore cooperation in sugar industry

The 5th China-ASEAN Sugar, Agricultural Machinery, and Sugarcane Mechanization Exhibition commenced in Nanning, capital city of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Dec 19, showcasing the development achievements of the sugar industry in China and ASEAN countries.

The exhibition aimed to enhance the all-around cooperation and communication in the sugar industry, as well as sugarcane mechanization between China and ASEAN, while jointly promoting the transformation and upgrading of the sugar industry.

The event, which is running for three days, is being co-hosted by the China-ASEAN Expo Secretariat, the China Sugar Association, and the China Agricultural Mechanization Association.

Covering a total area of around 49,000 square meters, the exhibition has set up several themed pavilions on areas spanning sugar, sugar-related food, agricultural machinery, and sugar industrial cooperation.

Series activities like a China high-end sugar forum, the China-ASEAN modern agricultural machinery cooperation and development forum as well as the forum on the development of smart sugar industry were also scheduled to be held during the event. 

Jia Zhiren, deputy chairman of the China National Light Industry Council, noted that China has reversed the losses from two consecutive sugar manufacturing periods since the 2019 and 2020 period.

Jia added that in the 2020 and 2021 period, the sugar industry will steadily push forward system and mechanism reforms to increase industrial service capability, as well as make full use of the resources from both domestic and overseas markets to further increase international comprehensive competitiveness. 

Guangxi is the largest sugarcane plantation area in China, with its output of cane sugar accounting for around 60 percent of the total output in China. 

Benjamas Tanvetyanont, consul general of Thailand in Nanning, said that Thailand and Guangxi has carried out cooperation and communication in the sugar industry for a long time, as well as that Thai companies have been investing in Guangxi's sugar industry for 28 years.