Welcome Remarks

The Central Rural Work Conference has highlighted the need "to promote the agricultural structural reform of the supply side as the main line of agricultural and rural work". To adapt to the new situation and new requirement, it is imperative to improve the management of modern agriculture and to strengthen the leading role of market information on the agricultural supply-side structural reforms. In recent years, China has achieved substantial progress in agricultural marketization and informatization, with the establishment of the groundbreaking and pioneering China Agricultural Outlook System. The 1st China Agricultural Outlook Conference (AOC) was hosted by Agricultural Information Institute of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2014; the 2nd Outlook Conference that held in 2015 witnessed the official launch of the "China Agricultural Outlook (2015-2024)" by Market Early Warning Expert Committee of Ministry of Agriculture; and the 3rd Outlook Conference held in 2016, drew extensive attention at home and abroad.

In accordance with the policy guidelines adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central committee, the Central Economic Working Conference, the Central Rural Work Conference and the No.1 Central Document, to deepen the supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector, the 4th China Agricultural Outlook Conference will be held in Beijing from April 20 to 21, 2017. This event, sponsored by Market Early Warning Expert Committee of Ministry of Agriculture, will be hosted by Agricultural Information Institute of CAAS, with support from Information Center of Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies. The conference will launch the "China Agricultural Outlook (2017-2026)", which contains the latest analyses in the demand and supply of agricultural commodities. On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I would like to sincerely invite you to participate in this conference.

The major agenda of Conference includes: (i) Releasing China Agricultural Outlook Report. The conference will release China Agricultural Outlook (2017-2026), covering 18 agricultural products such as grain, cotton, oilseed, sugar, meat, poultry eggs, dairy products, vegetable, fruit etc.; (ii) Deliberation on hot topics in macro-economy and agricultural development. AOC will organize seminars on pressing topics relating to China's agricultural development, such as agricultural supply-side structural reform, "internet+" modern agriculture, big data and agriculture monitoring and early-warning, agricultural and agricultural resources and environment, rural finance and insurance, international agricultural trade, etc.; and (iii) Sharing the latest accomplishments in the theories and methods in the areas of agricultural monitoring and early-warning. The conference will facilitate academic exchange pertaining to achievements in agricultural outlook methods and models, agricultural monitoring and early-warning technology, agricultural monitoring and early-warning system, agricultural information analysis methods and technology, etc.

The conference will bring together officials and practitioners from relevant ministries, scientific research institutions, universities, private sector, new type of entities in agricultural production and agribusiness, as well as professionals and scholars in the fields of agricultural information, market early warning, agricultural outlook, offering them an effective platform to jointly discuss the development of China agriculture in the next decade, and to share the achievements of China agriculture.

We look forward to meeting you in the spring of 2017 in Beijing!

Xu Shiwei

Executive Chairman of China Agricultural Outlook Conference