Three of China’s largest food companies—New Hope Group, COFCO Group and Wilmar International—have joined the Australia-Sino 100-Year Agricultural and Food Safety Partnership (ASA 100), initiated by Australian billionaire, and owner of Harvey Beef, Andrew Forrest. A goal of the partnership is to establish Australia as China’s “friendliest, largest, most reliable, highest quality, most competitive, most efficient agricultural products supplier” over the next century. Another is to revive the status of agriculture in the Australian economy with the cooperation of government and industry. Mr. Forrest reported that Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed in a meeting earlier this year that his top concern was securing the safety of China’s food supply. Fifty members each from China and Australia, including food producers and distributors, and government ministers, will form the ASA 100, which will meet annually. The first meeting of the ASA 100 was held on July 31 to form the Australian side of the Partnership.

Source: The Australian