100. Mr. Tang Zhengping invited the representatives of PRC, Italy and FAO to give their closing addresses (included in Appendix 4).

 

101. Mr. Lu Chunheng, Deputy Commissioner, NBS, recalled the importance of the work done with the Agricultural Census, and of the results achieved, both from the international comparison point of view as well as for the clear understanding it provided of basic national information in PRC. He pointed out that the papers presented discussed in depth many important aspects, such as the international position of Chinese agriculture, the structure of input factors, regional differences, non-agricultural industry, women’s role, anti-poverty measures, and food security. This provided the participants with a deep understanding of the Chinese agricultural situation and its development against the background of a globalized economy. Mr. Lu also recalled the emphasis given in collection of data to "the quality as a base" to ensure very high quality data from the census. Moreover, the suggestions from the seminar would contribute, in his opinion, to the improvement of methodology and the internalization and standardization of Chinese agricultural statistics. Finally, he thanked all the participants for their contribution to the success of the seminar, considering this success as another fruitful result of the international co-operation that he hoped would continue in the new millennium.

 

102. Mr. M. Gorgoni, Member of the Italy/FAO Technical Review and Monitoring Panel, stressed that, within the International Development Co-operation, the FAO/Italy projects were not just aimed at promoting and conducting the agricultural census per se, but as a tool-an extremely important one-for economic and social development. After four days spent by the seminar in valuable presentations and discussions, he was satisfied with the success of the seminar: the organization had been outstanding, the programme was good, and the papers and discussion were in most cases very good. Mr. Gorgoni pointed out that the seminar’s main contribution had been more in indicating the enormous potential to continue the research work of the analysis of data. This now called for a wider spectrum of professional skills and institutional capacities, both in PRC and in the international community. He expressed the wish that the broadest possible set of partnerships could be put to work to make the best use of the census results. Mr. Gorgoni finally expressed his most sincere thanks, on behalf of the Italian Government, to all the bodies and people that contributed to the organisation of the census and the seminar.

 

103. Mr. R. B. Singh, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific, congratulated the Chinese Government on the success of the International Seminar, which he felt would provide the international community with a new picture of the Chinese agricultural sector. He declared that he was happy with the results of the seminar and expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government and to the organiser for the invitation to attend the seminar. Mr. Singh recalled the importance of having detailed data of high quality in the agricultural field and, finally, thanked all the participants and the institutions that they represented for their contribution to the Chinese Agricultural Census and to the seminar.