On September 5, the signing ceremony of the memorandum of cooperation on standard establishment between Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (ZOOMLION) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos was held in Vientiane, Laos. Wang Yongxiang, Co-President of ZOOMLION, and Bounchanh Kombounyasith, Director of the Planting Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, signed the contract on behalf of both parties, under the witness of leaders and guests in China and Laos, including Mao Weiming, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and Governor of the People's Government of Hunan Province, Phet Phomphiphak, Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos, Zhan Chunxin, Chairman and CEO of ZOOMLION, and Mrs. PhouangPhet Pouvang, Director of Department of Inspection of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos.

According to the memorandum, the two parties will promote cooperation in science and technology and agriculture, and effectively enhance exchanges and mutual learning in agricultural machinery standards, agricultural technology and agronomy, agricultural services, and financial support. The cooperation encompasses several aspects. First, drawing on China's agricultural machinery standards and relevant international standards, Laos will learn and exchange agricultural machinery standards and technological advantages. Additionally, centering on the classification, coding standards, technological thresholds, subsidy certification, operation testing, and after-sales services of agricultural machinery, China will help establish a standard system for agricultural machinery in Laos and promote its nationwide implementation. Besides, China and Laos will exchange information and technology, cultivate professionals in agricultural mechanization, form expert groups to regularly monitor and inspect projects, and set up guidance teams to ensure that projects are promoted in accordance with the laws and regulations.

It is known that agricultural mechanization in Laos is still in its early stages. Currently, there is a lack of agricultural machinery industry standards in Laos. Consequently, the quality of agricultural machinery products that have entered the Laos market varies greatly and so does the level of supporting services, which hinders the sustainable development of agricultural machinery in Laos.

ZOOMLION is a world-leading high-end equipment manufacturer with profound R&D and manufacturing technology accumulation in the field of agricultural machinery and other equipment. Its agricultural machinery products cover four major series of machines, including those used for dry farmland, paddy fields, cash crops, and post-harvest processing. The company has developed globally pioneering products such as artificial intelligence wheat machines and new energy products like purely electric tractors, taking the lead in the industry in terms of intelligent and environmentally friendly high-end agricultural machinery. In addition, ZOOMLION is the first enterprise in China to be qualified as a long-term supplier of agricultural machinery to the United Nations. It provides high-end equipment and systematic solutions for various agricultural production processes such as plowing, sowing, managing, harvesting, and drying in over 60 countries worldwide.

Apart from matching needs and advantages, the two parties have carried out extensive collaboration in the agricultural field previously, laying a solid foundation for deepening cooperation at this time. ZOOMLION's agricultural machinery entered the Laos market in 2021. In 2022, it donated a batch of targeted products such as seedling-raising machines, seedling throwers, and tractors to Laos. In February this year, it opened an agricultural machinery flagship store in Vientiane, Laos, gradually establishing a comprehensive service system containing agricultural machinery sales, user training, spare parts supply, after-sales service, and financial leasing.

This cooperation, from agricultural machinery products, technology export, and market network construction and deepening to standard establishment, not only provides a significant driving force for the development of agricultural mechanization in local areas but also opens up a broad space for the future development of China's agricultural machinery and equipment in Laos, assisting China's leading agricultural machinery manufacturers represented by ZOOMLION in entering the Laos market and sustaining their operations.

At the signing ceremony, Zhan Chunxin, Chairman and CEO of ZOOMLION, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the full trust of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos and the strong support from the People's Government of Hunan Province. Zhan stated that ZOOMLION will fully consider the actual situation of agriculture in Laos, give play to its experience in technologies and standard establishment, work with experts from Laos to create standardized and scientific agricultural machinery standards in Laos, and jointly promote technology sharing, mutual recognition of standards and industrial mutual benefit between the two sides, so as to contribute more value for the sustainable development of agricultural machinery industry in both countries.