HAIKOU, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- A global research and development center for natural rubber has been established in south China's Hainan Province.
The center, set up Saturday by Chinese and global organizations in Hainan's Boao, aims to develop a new market for China's crude rubber industry and push for international cooperation in the industry.
"We pursue international cooperation on a deeper level in the natural rubber industry," said Yang Yi of the Ministry of Agriculture at the fifth International Forum on Natural Rubber Industry in Boao.
China is the biggest consumer and importer of natural rubber in the world. The country needed about 4.9 million tonnes of crude rubber in 2016, accounting for about 40 percent of global consumption, Yang said.
Hainan's vice governor Li Guoliang said that the island province is a major production area for crude rubber and Hainan will continue to push for the development of the industry.
"We support Hainan companies' cooperation with foreign companies in the planting, processing, storage, logistics and trade of crude rubber," Li said.
