Charting the Way Forward: ADBC Visits Agri-PDB Team in Rome

Strengthening an Ongoing Partnership

The Agricultural Development Bank of China (ADBC) visited IFAD Headquarters in Rome for a high-level bilateral meeting with members of the Agri-PDB Platform and other senior IFAD representatives. The exchange focused on shared priorities such as agricultural policy support, smallholder financing, rural poverty reduction, and food security. The ADBC delegation was led by Mr. Du Yankun, Chief Strategy Officer, and included senior representatives from strategic, equity, and regional departments. From IFAD, the meeting was attended by leadership and technical teams from the Office of Technical Delivery, the Asia and the Pacific Division, and the Agri-PDB Platform.

Highlights from the Meeting

Country operations and regional strategy
IFAD’s team—joined virtually by Ms. Reehana Raza and Mr. Nii Quaye-Kumah—outlined IFAD’s current country programme in China, including activities led by the SSTC Centre in Beijing. Synergies across the Asia-Pacific region were also discussed.

Policy and investment dialogue
Senior representatives Ms. Pieternel Boogaard and Mr. Nigel Brett led technical exchanges on topics such as the balance between market mechanisms and policy mandates, decentralized financing, and innovation in public development banking.

Insights from ADBC

ADBC, the world’s largest public development bank by assets, is a major player in green finance and financial inclusion. It engages in regional and international cooperation through partnerships with institutions like ADB, APRACA, and AFD—all of which also collaborate with IFAD.

During the meeting, the delegation shared the bank’s current priorities, including food security, agricultural modernization, integrated rural–urban development, and environmental sustainability. A highlight was a case study from Shandong Province, presented by Mr. Yin Jijun, showcasing the “company + individual farmer” model—a successful approach to agricultural financing. Both parties expressed interest in exploring co-financing opportunities in China, with follow-up discussions planned.

Agri-PDB Platform Collaboration

The Agri-PDB team provided updates on recent milestones, including their involvement in the 5th Finance in Common Summit (FiCS 2025). They highlighted strong partnerships with ADBC and other Asian PDBs like Agribank Vietnam, BAAC Thailand, and ARDB Cambodia.

ADBC reaffirmed its commitment to the platform and expressed interest in participating in future FiCS editions, as well as expanding peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing on successful models from China.

Looking Ahead

The visit marked a step forward in strengthening the partnership between IFAD and ADBC. With aligned strategies and a shared vision for inclusive, sustainable rural development, both institutions are committed to deepening collaboration for greater global impact.