Welcome Remarks

In recent years, China has made significant progress in agricultural marketization and informatization, and has pioneered an innovative agricultural outlook system. Information technologies such as the Internet, Internet of Things, and Big Data have provided effective analysis and application tools. Agricultural monitoring and early warning has integrated into the whole process of modern agricultural development, becoming a momentous technical support for the rural vitalization and the agricultural supply-side structural reform.

In accordance with the policy guidelines adopted by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Central Economic Working Conference, the Central Rural Work Conference and the No.1 Central Document, and in a bid to deepen the supply-side structural reform in the agricultural sector, to accelerate agricultural modernization, and to promote the implementation of the rural vitalization strategy, the 5th China Agricultural Outlook Conference will be held in Beijing from April 20 to 21, 2018. This event, sponsored by Market Early Warning Expert Committee of Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), will be hosted by Agricultural Information Institute of CAAS, with support from Information Center of MOA, Research Center for Rural Economy of MOA, and Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of MOA. The conference will launch the "China Agricultural Outlook (2018-2027)", 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 (2018-2027), analyze the market situation and project the market trend; (ii) Specialized presentation by commodity. Reports and presentations will forecast the agricultural supply and demand situation in 2018, covering rice, wheat, maize, soybean, cotton, oilseed, sugar, vegetable, fruit, meat, poultry eggs, dairy products, fish products, feed, etc.; and (3) Deliberation on hot topics in rural and agricultural development. AOC will organize seminars on pressing topics relating to China's agricultural development, including rural vitalization, agricultural supply-side structural reform, E-commerce, agricultural big data, agricultural product price and farmers' income, agriculture futures and insurance, international trade and investment, agricultural resources and environment, agricultural science and technology innovation, etc.

The conference will bring together officials and practitioners from relevant ministries, scientific research institutions, universities, private sector, international organizations, 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 April, 2018 in Beijing!

Xu Shiwei

Executive Chairman of China Agricultural Outlook Conference