The dream of bringing Vietnamese seafood to Yunnan consumers

The Forum to connect agriculture, forestry and fishery trade between Vietnam and China through Yunnan province took place on May 31 in Kunming city. Ms. Man Tue, Managing Director of Phat Loi Investment Trading Service Joint Stock Company and a participant of the event, discussed the export fresh and dried seafood from Vietnam to Yunnan.

"I want to use this forum as an opportunity to connect with Yunnan seafood companies and look into possibilities to export Vietnamese seafood here", Ms. Man Tue shared.

According to a local representative, Yunnan is an inland province, and its population wants to try Vietnamese seafood products. Additionally, Yunnan province complies with all international regulations on import and export of seafood products and it is within the management area of ​​the General Administration of Customs of China.

"We hope that Vietnamese seafood will soon be available to Yunnan consumers", said the local representative. According to him, Vietnam possess great strengths in fishing and aquaculture, so Yunnan is interested in these products.

The General Administration of Customs of China currently allows the registration of seafood imports through smart platforms on their websites. In addition, the Administration collects independent samples for testing, which can raise costs for import and export businesses.

The testing of aquatic products is different from that of other agricultural products at reasonable testing rates. Namely, for lobster products, the General Administration of Customs of China tests for 8 types of diseases and bacteria such as intestinal disease, white spot, hepatopancreatic, etc.

"Generally speaking, if you want to bring Vietnamese seafood into Yunnan, it is necessary to comply with the general regulations similar to other markets around the world", summarized the local representative.

Regarding import and quarantine standards, Yunnan suggested Vietnam's local governments to discuss in details with Chinese equivalent agencies.

For dry products, the General Administration of Customs of China requires exporters to provide a Latin-based scientific name because these items are difficult to identify. As a result, exporting businesses are forced to provide the most accurate information during the registration process to acquire certificates and facilitate customs declaration.

General Director of Sunwah Group has considered Yunnan an important strategic investment location since his first visit to the province since 2016. Yunnan is China's economic and trade center that borders South and Southeast Asia. The province is famous for its unique geographical location and rich resources.

Sunwah Group has always followed the three-card deployment strategy as established by the Yunnan Provincial Party Committee. In addition, the company has cooperated with local governments and businesses to build companies that specializes in tea, coffee, culture and real estate. Furthermore, Sunwah Group has actively participatinged in the modernization process of Yunnan.

Sunwah Group has invested in Vietnam for more than fifty years. Initially a seafood business, the company grew to becme the largest seafood importer and exporter in Vietnam, and the first foreign-invested business to establish a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City.

With abundant agricultural, forestry and fishery resources along with high capacity for scientific and technological innovation, Vietnam plays an important role in global agriculture, forestry and fishery development. The country has provided numerous high-quality products for domestic and foreign markets, creating a solid foundation for national economic growth and sustainable development.

Sunwah Group hopes that Vietnam and China can further strengthen cooperation, improve technical level, and achieve mutual benefits. On the other hand, both countries can face the challenges and opportunities of globalization together using international trade rules, with a focus on safety, health and environmental friendliness.

Sunwah Group will strive to elevate China - Vietnam cooperation in the field of agriculture, forestry and fishery to a new height, contributing to the economic development of both countries.

Yunnan and Vietnam have been actively promoting agricultural product trade cooperation and agricultural investment. According to Kunming Department of Customs, the total agricultural trade turnover between Vietnam and Yunnan reached approximately 6,337 billion yuan in 2022, accounting for roughly 15% of the Yunnan's total agricultural trade turnover.