Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan expressed interests in contributing to the work of ANTAM and establishing regular contact with the ANTAM Secretariat. Mr. Toshiro Hagio, First Secretary of the Economic Section of the Japanese Embassy in China, visited CSAM office and had a meeting with Ms. AI, Yuxin, Programme Officer responsible for ANTAM, on the afternoon of 10 July. During the meeting. Ms. Ai presented CSAM’s work with a focus on ANTAM, its mission, programme of activities, latest progress and working mechanisms, and answered queries raised by Mr. Hagio. Mr. Hagio stated that the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture had keen interests in ANTAM, and would like to enhance its participation in the future. Ms. Ai welcomed Japan’s substantive participation and discussed the steps to be taken to facilitate Japan's meaningful contribution, including nomination of a focal point for ANTAM, provision of technical support through the Technical Working Group and active participation in the 2nd Annual Meeting of ANTAM in December in India. Mr. ZHAO, Bing, Head of CSAM, met with Mr. Hagio at the end of the meeting, and reiterated the unique and important role of Japan in promoting sustainable agricultural mechanization across Asia through substantive participation in CSAM’s activities including ANTAM. Mr. Hagio thanked CSAM for thorough information and documents provided, and affirmed that all information would be immediately transmitted to the Ministry in Japan. According to Mr. Hagio, Japan would soon nominate a focal point for ANTAM, and establish contact with the ANTAM Secretariat.