On November 30, 2013, Yichang Municipal Government signed a letter of intent on agricultural cooperation with the Israeli Agricultural Research Organization (ARO). Both sides reached an agreement on the introduction of high-quality breeds of crops and related agricultural technologies from Israel, and on the development of breeds that are suitable for the natural conditions and market demand of Yichang as well. Ma Xuming, Mayor of the municipal government, attended the signing ceremony. The delegation from Israel consists of three members including Kapulnik Yoram, the Director of ARO himself.

　　Earlier this month, Yichang Municipal Government delegation visited Israel and held in-depth talks with their counterparts on bilateral cooperation. This return visit made by the Israeli experts is a further effort to enhance the cooperation. According to the agreement just signed between two sides, Israel will send more experts to Yichang to evaluate its overall natural conditions, agricultural planting, and market demand, in order to pave the way for the more substantial cooperation.

　　During their stay in Yichang, Israeli experts also visited the Biological Industrial Park in Yichang High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Luo Han Grape Production Base and Guan Zhuang Village Orange Production Base in Yiling District, which deepened their understanding of the overall agricultural layout of Yichang city, the status quo of relevant industries, and sales and deep processing of some agricultural products.

　　(Reporters: Zhang Liang and Xiao Qiu )