China is rapidly reforming agriculture with the goal of achieving greater food sustainability, Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang said at the China Pavilion Day ceremony at the Milan Expo on Monday.

Wang said that agricultural and food sustainability were important for China, both historically and now. He hoped the Expo would be a good platform for China to learn and exchange expertise.

"China and Italy have had a great history of exchanges for 2,000 years as the two countries were connected by an ancient silk road, and today we hope this silk road will continue to prosper," Wang said.

His comments were made a day after he appealed for global cooperation on food security at an event in Rome organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. China has increased its grain production for 11 consecutive years, with an annual output of more than 600 million tons in the past two years, Wang said in Rome.

"The whole world should cooperate on food security, as it is a global issue," he said, adding that the world could eliminate hunger and poverty only if all countries worked together.

At the China Pavilion Day, Wang said that the Shanghai Expo in 2010 had many achievements, and he hoped that the Milan Expo would do the same.

As a country with a large population and great food culture, China regarded the Milan Expo theme of food sustainability as particularly important, Wang said.

This is demonstrated by the way the China Pavilion design uses the concept of harmony between nature and mankind, and displays China's food culture while allowing visitors to taste authentic Chinese food, he said.

Covering about 4,500 square meters, second in size only to the Germany Pavilion, the China Pavilion is themed The Land of Hope.

Inside, exhibits showcase China's ancient food culture with stories that are specific to regions and cities. Wang thanked the Italian organizers for their support during the pavilion's construction and operational stages, and said he expects many more Chinese visitors will visit Expo in the summer.

Stefania Giannini, Italian Minister of Education, said that she looked forward to more cooperation between China and Italy in the fields of food sustainability, culture, technology, education and research and development.

"China and Italy have had great cooperation since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and our continued cooperation will benefit not just our two countries, but also the world," Giannini said.

She said that China and Italy have the potential to work together in many fields including food processing, food packaging and food recycling.

"All innovation comes from ideas, so we hope there will be more exchanges between our countries," she said.

cecily.liu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/09/2015 page3)