2 November 2009 Lincoln University Dairy Farm visit by Chinese Vice-Premier

Chinese Vice-Premier Li Keqiang took a keen interest in the commercial and research activities at Lincoln University’s state-of-the-art dairy farm during an official visit on Sunday afternoon (1 November).

The farm was the Vice-Premier’s first call after arriving in Christchurch at the start of a three-day visit to New Zealand.

Mr Li said he hoped his visit to New Zealand would encourage the on-going development of “comprehensive cooperative ties between the two countries”.

Administrative arrangements on educational cooperation, dairy products, temporary workers, and meat products were to be signed in Wellington yesterday (Monday).

At Lincoln University, New Zealand’s specialist land-based university, Vice-Chancellor Professor Roger Field said that the University had technology “we think is applicable to the development of the dairy industry in China”.

Some of the technology had been developed in association with Chinese scientists, he said.

The Chinese Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Mr Wei Chaoan, said there were big opportunities for both countries to work together.

Pictured here, the Vice-Premier takes a close look at clover, one of the important components of New Zealand pastures. Its role in helping to fix nitrogen from the air and provide extra nitrogen for the grass in the pasture is described for him by soil scientists Professor Keith Cameron (right) and Professor Hong Di (centre).