On Monday the China-U.S. Sustainable Agricultural Trade Forum and Contract Signing Ceremony co-organized by U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce & Animal By-products (CFNA), Iowa Soybean Association, and U.S. Grains Council was held in downtown Des Moines.
Several Chinese agriculture companies and U.S. commodity exporter companies signed 11 purchasing agreements and contracts during the ceremony.
That was CEO of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, Jim Sutter.
Also in attendance at the signing event was former Iowa Governor and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad who says Iowa has worked hard to build trade relationships.
Ambassador Xie Feng, Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the U.S.A. also spoke on Monday about the relationships forged between Iowa and China.
Ambassador Xie Feng says that the fall colors in Iowa remind him of a familiar song and hope for the future.
Among the companies that signed 11 purchasing contracts/agreements were ADM with Bohi Industry, ADM with China Agri, ADM with Fuzhiyuan Feed Protein (Wilmar International), Bunge with Sinograin Oil, Cargill with Sinograin Oil, CHS with Bohi Enterprises, CHS with Sinograin Oil, COFCO International with China Agri, COFCO Agri with Zennoh Grain, Shenzhen Gem with Hangtung Resources, and Zennoh Grain with Bohi Industry.
The Sustainable Agriculture Trade Forum was also attended by Ambassador Terry Branstad, President, World Food Prize Foundation; Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President Emeritus, World Food Prize Foundation; Governor Bob Holden, Chairman & President, U.S. Heartland China Association; Stan Born, Chairman of USSEC; Dawn Scheier, Board Secretary of USSEC; Xiaoping Zhang, Regional Director of USSEC Greater China; April Hemmes, United Soybean Board Director; Kirk Leeds, CEO, Iowa Soybean Association; Grant Kimberly, Senior Director of Market Development, Iowa Soybean Association; Chen Ying, Director of Cereals & Oils Dept., CFNA; Cary B. Sifferath, VP, U.S. Grains Council; Dr. Chad Hart, Ag. Economist from Iowa State University, and several other dignitaries from both countries.
