Delegates at an agricultural product connection forum hich focused on seeking ways to promote farm produce trade between Vietnam and China (Photo: VNA)Lao Cai (VNA) – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the People’sCommittee of the northern border province of Lao Cai on February 10 jointlyheld an agricultural product connection forum, which focused on seeking ways topromote farm produce trade between Vietnam and China.
The virtual forum,which connected more than 400 members inside and outside the country,drew a large number of State agencies and farm produce exporters.
It was held in thecontext that China is loosening COVID-19 prevention and control measures and will resume entry-exit and import-export activities with northern localities of Vietnam.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Asia-Africa Market Departmentunder the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) To Ngoc Son said that lastyear, trade between Vietnam and China reached 175.5 billion USD. With apopulation of over 1.41 billion, China is a very important export market for the Vietnamese agricultural sector, consuming 53.7% of total vegetable and fruit exports of Vietnam.
China is the third largest importer of Vietnamese aquatic products only after the US and Japan.(Photo: VNA)Particularly, China isthe third largest importer of Vietnamese aquatic products only after the US andJapan.
Son said that in order to promote exports to China, domestic firms should paygreater attention to building and protecting trademarks, while understanding market demand and strengthening the application of technology to trade activities. Headvised exporters to optimise the Vietnam-China railway and e-commerceactivities.
Meanwhile, Huynh TanDat, Deputy Director of the MARD’s Plant Protection Department, said that China isapplying higher trade barriers and requirements for imported farm produce.
He underlined that it is necessary to include discussions on the removal oftechnical barriers and the opening of market for farm produce to high-levelmeetings between the two countries. Meanwhile, it is crucial to diversifyexport markets for different kinds of agricultural products, he said.
Vice Chairwoman of the Lao Cai Business Association Nguyen Thi Nguyet said thatin order to deal with congestion at the border gates, it is necessary to extend customs clearance at the gates to 10pm every day.
Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Lao Cai province Hoang Quoc Khanh proposedthat the MARD support businesses in production and trademark building, whilesigning a protocol with the Chinese side on plant quarantine for Vietnamese agriculturalproducts to reduce the time and procedures for inspection andcontrol at border gates.
Regarding requirements for farm produce following China’s Orders No. 248 and No. 249, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that exporters should collaboratewith local agricultural firms to develop material regions, while coordinatingwith authorised agencies in granting codes for farming areas and packingfacilities to meet China’s requirements.
He advised exportersto contact authorised agencies at the border gates to make sure they clearlyunderstand the customs clearance procedures to avoid congestion. The speedy clearance would ensure the quality of products and save costs, Nam added./.
VNA
