Mekong Institute (MI), together with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Zhejiang University, with support from the ASEAN–CGIAR Innovate for Food and Nutrition Security Regional Program (IFRP), convened the ASEAN–China Workshop 2025 on Agri-food Trade, Value Chains, and Green Finance on November 6–7, 2025, in Vientiane, Lao PDR. The 1.5-day workshop brought together 38 representatives from ASEAN Member States and China, including senior officials from agriculture ministries, regional organizations, development partners, and leading academic institutions.
Amid intensifying climate challenges, trade disruptions, and evolving market dynamics, the workshop aimed to strengthen ASEAN–China collaboration on regenerative agriculture, sustainable trade, and green finance in support of resilient, low-carbon, and inclusive agri-food systems. The discussions are part of IFRP’s next phase supporting ASEAN’s forthcoming Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (FAF) Strategic Plan 2026–2030 and the ASEAN Post-2025 Vision.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Kevin Chen, Head and Senior Research Fellow of IFPRI’s East and Central Asia Office and Chair Professor at Zhejiang University, emphasized the importance of policy and market incentives to encourage the adoption of regenerative agriculture. He highlighted the value of leveraging shared experiences across countries to guide regional actions.
Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of MI, highlighted the need to contextualize regenerative agriculture within ASEAN realities. He noted that regenerative approaches not only sustain current production systems but also restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance smallholder competitiveness. He reaffirmed MI’s commitment to supporting regional cooperation, policy dialogue, and capacity building to ensure that farmers and SMEs benefit from the emerging green economy. “This workshop helps us understand where our efforts stand, the challenges we face, and how we can collectively find better solutions to advance regenerative agriculture as a pathway toward future agri-food systems,” he said.
Representing the host country, Mr. Thevarack Phonekeo, Deputy Director General of the Department of Planning and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR, underscored the importance of ASEAN–China cooperation in accelerating green transformation. He pointed to the role of knowledge sharing, green investment, technology transfer, and policy dialogue in enabling countries to transition toward sustainable agrifood system.
The workshop generated momentum for deeper ASEAN–China cooperation, producing shared policy messages, new knowledge, and emerging pilot concepts that will guide the region toward more sustainable, low-carbon, and inclusive value chains. By consolidating insights on regenerative agriculture and green finance across multiple countries, the discussions laid the foundation for stronger alignment with the ASEAN Post-2025 Vision and the forthcoming FAF Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
The workshop produced shared policy messages, new insights, and emerging pilot concepts that will help shape regional approaches to regenerative agriculture and green finance. These outcomes will feed into the next phase of the ASEAN–CGIAR Innovate Program and inform ASEAN’s regional agenda on regenerative agriculture, green trade, and sustainable finance.
MI, IFPRI, and partners under the IFRP framework will continue working closely with governments and stakeholders to translate the workshop’s insights into action, strengthening cooperation, mobilizing green investment, and advancing the transition toward future-ready agri-food systems across ASEAN and China.
