China has completed the summer wheat harvest across 8.6 million hectares of its farmlands by Friday, accounting for over 30 percent of the national total, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
According to a forecast by the meteorological department, widespread rainfall, which started on Friday, continues and the weather is expected to clear up from Monday. The major wheat-harvesting areas in China are prepared to take advantage of the favorable conditions to accelerate mechanized harvest.
The junction of Henan, Hubei, and Anhui Provinces is traditionally a major focus of China's summer harvest effort, where over three million hectares of wheat are expected to be gathered.
In the Pukou District of Nanjing City, the provincial capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, farmers were accelerating their work across 4,200 hectares of land.
"We will take advantage of the good weather to make sure all wheat will be safely stored. Many of our farmers start working on the fields as early as 06:00, and some even work until midnight," said Shao Lichang, head of a local agricultural cooperative.
The summer harvest in southwest China's Sichuan Province was basically completed, and local farmers were excited about the expected income from the grain they gathered.
Zhang Fupeng, a wheat grower in the province's Guanghan City, said a local food processing company had ordered his wheat at an above-market price.
"My wheat will earn me about 780,000 to 790,000 yuan (about 108,000 to 109,000 U.S. dollars) this year," said Zhang.
So far, over 80 percent of wheat has been gathered in east China's Anhui Province and this year, the total wheat output is expected to reach last year's level after the province implemented measures to battle drought.
In April, Anhui experienced persistent dry weather. Still, local farmers suffered limited losses thanks to the increasing investment in building high-standard farmland, reaching about 65 million yuan (over nine million U.S. dollars) so far.
"The irrigation facility on the high-standard farmland is great and perfectly meets our needs. There are pumping houses on the farmland, and they help us irrigate the land promptly. I watered my wheat three times this year," said Chu Yanmei, a cultivator in Fuyang City.
China completes over 30 pct summer wheat harvest
Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday China is willing to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and advance the China-Lesotho strategic partnership.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Lesotho Prime Minister Sam Matekane in the capital of Lesotho.
During the meeting, Wang congratulated Lesotho on the 60th anniversary of its independence this year, and spoke highly of Lesotho government's efforts to prioritize economic development and steer the African country onto a path of sustainable growth. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2024, the two sides have advanced cooperation under the 10 partnership action plans unveiled at the summit, successfully implementing a number of key projects to effectively promote Lesotho's development and revitalization, Wang said.
China stands ready to work with Lesotho to strengthen exchanges on governance experience, enhance coordination in multilateral affairs, and push for greater development of the China-Lesotho strategic partnership, he added.
Calling on the two sides to firmly support each other, Wang said that China will accelerate the implementation of its zero-tariff policy for African countries, including Lesotho, expand bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, facilitate broader access of Lesotho's specialty products to the Chinese market, and continue to support Lesotho's national development.
China will continue to stand firmly with African countries, uphold justice for the Global South, including Lesotho, oppose unilateralism and acts of bullying, and work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
On his part, Matekane said during the meeting that Lesotho cherishes its friendship with China and the strategic partnership between the two countries, and expressed gratitude for China's valuable support for the development of African countries, including Lesotho.
Lesotho firmly adheres to the one-China principle and resolutely supports China in safeguarding its core interests, he said, noting that his country stands ready to strengthen strategic mutual trust with China, expand people-to-people exchanges, jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and deepen cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, manufacturing and energy.
Matekane stressed that China's zero-tariff policy for African products will inject new impetus into Lesotho's development. He also expressed Lesotho's willingness to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS to jointly address global challenges.
On the same day, Wang also held talks with Lejone Mpotjoana, minister of foreign affairs and international relations of Lesotho.
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
China, Lesotho to strengthen exchanges, advance cooperation
