95. The summary of main discussion items and lessons learned from the census was presented by the rapporteur: Mr. L. Biggeri, Senior Project Advisor for Projects GCP/CPR/020/ITA and GCP/CPR/025/ITA.

 

96. It was noted that the format of the seminar had been chosen in the spirit of better promoting interest in and stimulating exchange of views in the international community on the results of the first Agricultural Census of PRC. To this end, special attention had been given to a wide coverage of items and issues, as well as an adequate richness and potential diversity of presentations.

 

97. The main points discussed and the main results of the seminar were summarized, showing the lessons to be drawn from them for future activity in the agricultural statistics field and in the economic analysis of the agricultural and rural sector. The importance of international co-operation in the field of statistics was also recognized.

 

98. The papers presented were very informative and interesting and gave the participants a very important message: namely, that PRC has now the first definitive picture of the structure of its agricultural production sector, and has the necessary data and tools for planning and policy decisions in this sector of their economy. The need to continue work in this field, especially for the revision of current sample surveys and the construction of a system of agricultural and rural statistics, was recalled.

 

99. Finally, the importance of the seminar for the dissemination of both the census data as well as the results of the agricultural economic analyses was stressed. It was concluded that the objectives of the seminar were achieved, and it was hoped that the seminar would have a multiplier effect for further studies, for in-depth research analysis, and for discussion and input to decisions of policy makers. Not many policy makers had attended the seminar, but the Chinese participants would certainly be able to "transfer" the main results of the seminar to the discussion forum around PRC.