Deputy Commissioner, National Bureau of Statistics, Distinguished Representative of Italy, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

I am again privileged to greet you and express FAO′s gratitude for this International Seminar, which is now coming to a close. I regret that I had to be away during a major part of this meeting, owing to other commitments, but I have been informed of the high quality and interest of the presentations, and the lively discussions.

 

The International Seminar was unique in many ways. The extensive use of the data from the census has added great value to the results of this large-scale statistical operation. The cooperation between producers and users of data during the preparation and conduct of this seminar was also exemplary. We should emphasize the quality and comprehensive nature of the data, which is a forerunner to efficient planning. The Agricultural Census produced such data, which was undertaken for the first time in China, and is the largest agricultural census in the world. In particular, I thank the more than seven million enumerators who made it such a success story.

 

The participants in this seminar were high-level experts of varied backgrounds and perspectives, which uniquely enriched the outcome. The high quality of the papers presented at this meeting is a testimony to the intellectual quality that steered the discussions during the past four days.

 

I salute the trinity-synergistic, highly significant positive interaction of three forces: The National Bureau of Statistics has created the opportunity for this high-level exchange of experiences. The International Programme Committee has guided and decided on the rich contents of the seminar. The Organizing Committee has arranged excellent facilities conducive to the success of this unprecedented event.

 

In particular, I would like to thank the Vice-Minister, who graced the opening of the seminar, and the representatives of the National Bureau of Statistics, as well as the universities and research institutes in China for making very valuable contributions to the seminar. Highly distinguished participants from abroad, such as Mr. Fred Vogel from the United States Department of Agriculture and Dr. H. K. Oh from the Republic of Korea, as well as experts from Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom made outstanding presentations at this conference. Of course, I note that besides the financial support, Italy has provided an excellent academic partnership during the Agricultural Census and the International Seminar, especially through the involvement of the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), the University of Florence, the University of Bologna and the University of Padova. I highly appreciate the important contributions of the FAO/Italy Technical Review and Monitoring Panel and International Organizations, such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

 

Finally, it is not easy to forget the exceptional collaboration within FAO for the conduct of the seminar. Service Chiefs and Senior Officers from the Women in Development Service, the Global Perspectives Studies Unit, the Agriculture and Economic Development Analysis Division, the Statistics Division, the Unit for Cooperation with Multilateral and Bilateral Agencies, and the FAO Representation in China participated in this seminar. I especially recognize the inputs of Mr. Hiek Som, Chief, Statistical Development Service and his team, and the untiring efforts of Ms. Pansy Tsang, Programme Officer of the project.

 

I would also like to thank the interpreters and all the support staff for their assistance. We are grateful for the excellent hospitality extended to all of us during this seminar. As someone once said: “Those who stand and wait also serve." We are indebted to them.

 

FAO is indeed privileged to have had this opportunity to participate in such exemplary international cooperation.

 

Thank you.