By Yan Dongjie in Tianjin

The 22nd China International Agricultural Trade Fair is held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Tianjin) in Tianjin. [Photo by Yan Dongjie/chinadaily.com.cn]

The 22nd China International Agricultural Trade Fair opened at the Tianjin National Convention and Exhibition Center on Friday. 

Nearly 4,000 exhibitors are showcasing about 25,000 types of agricultural products, attracting over 50,000 buyers and professional visitors.

The exhibition features 12 specialised zones including premium brands, green organic landmarks, smart agriculture, agricultural technology, and supportive industries.

It brings together fresh and processed agricultural products such as grains, cotton, oils, meat, eggs, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and tea, alongside advanced and applicable agricultural technologies and modern farming equipment, encompassing all production elements across the industry chain.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand. The Agricultural Trade Fair has specially invited Thailand to serve as the guest of honor, with 19 countries participating in the exhibition, including Brazil, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Uganda. 

The international exhibition area features a dedicated China-Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) International Agricultural Cooperation Pavilion, actively implementing the outcomes of the SCO Tianjin Summit.

Li Yiwei, from Duliu Braised Fish Food (Tianjin) Co, said the significance of the Agricultural Trade Fair lies in promoting the company's distinctive products. It is a pleasure to engage with visitors from across the nation and even abroad who come to learn about our products.

The atmosphere at the venue was exceptionally lively, "This fair has boosted the local economy and allowed us to local, regional and distinctive speciality foods," Zhang Wei, a student from Tianjin Business Vocational College, said. 

The 13th International Conference on Agricultural Intelligent Technology was held concurrently with the meeting, further advancing collaborative innovation in agricultural science and technology across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and accelerating the intelligent transformation of agriculture in the area.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, Yan Jiyue, president of the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, noted that over the past year, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region had witnessed significant improvements in modern agricultural science and technology innovation and service provision.

Wang Baoyu, vice-mayor of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government, emphasised the importance of coordinated development within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, hoping that the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance would serve as a model and driving force in achieving high-level self-reliance and strength.