China and other countries should cooperate more in agricultural technology in the face of common challenges, a senior Chinese leader said Tuesday.

Vice premier Wang Yang, speaking at the opening ceremony of the 18th World Congress of the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR), said the Chinese government is giving special attention to agriculture and they regard feeding China's 1.3 billion people a top priority.

China should actively participate in global exchanges and cooperation to promote sustainable development of agriculture. So far, more than 30,000 trips by Chinese specialists to developing countries in Asia and Africa have been made to support local agriculture in those areas, he said.

He said he hoped attendees could reach consensus in addressing common problems concerning population, food, health and environment.

Chen Zhangliang, a Chinese biologist and vice president of China Association for Science and Technology, said agriculture in China is facing challenges with water and soil quality, resource shortage, environmental degradation and natural disasters as many other countries do.

The sustainable development of agriculture must rely on agro-technology and engineering, Chen said.

Founded in 1930, the CIGR is the largest international academic institution of its field. This is the first time for a CIGR quadrennial congress to convene in Asia. Panel discussions will cover topics ranging from agricultural machinery to renewable energy.

(Xinhua)