Three Protocols to sign to open agricultural markets of Vietnam and China

At the invitation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, the MARD delegation led by Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam has taken a five-day working trip (Jan 15-19) to Beijing and Guangzhou (China). The mission aims to promote market opening for potential agricultural products and cooperation between the two countries.

On January 16, the two sides dug deep into discussion at the meeting with Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China Ma Youxiang. They agreed on multiple bilateral cooperation topics in detail fields including the organization of the second Vietnam-China Agricultural Cooperation Committee Meeting in China in 2024, exchanging collaborative initiatives in science and technology related to green agriculture, emissions reduction, and organic farming, enhancing investment cooperation in agriculture, two-way agricultural trade, and sharing experiences and mutual learning on rural development and revitalization between the two countries.

On the same day, the MARD delegation worked with the General Administration of Customs of China where Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam talked to the leader of the unit, Mr. Zhao Zenglian on agricultural market opening.

Both sides have reached an agreement that China will promptly complete a legal review to sign, at the earliest convenience, three Protocols, including the export of naturally exploited seafood, the export of farmed crocodiles, and the export of domestically raised monkeys from Vietnam to China.

Additionally, the two parties will collaborate to address issues in the import and export of catfish and tiger prawns under a special mechanism, which will be incorporated into the memorandum between the two countries. While awaiting the signing of the Protocol, China will consider and establish a special mechanism for export registration facilities.

China has agreed to reconsider the ban on importing poultry from Vietnam. Both sides will coordinate to complete procedures for lifting the ban, include salted jellyfish in the Protocol on the export of naturally exploited seafood for Vietnam, and be prepared to handle additional technical documentation from Vietnam to allow for the import of avocados from Vietnam. Both parties have also agreed to coordinate and participate in the annual exchange meetings between the inspection and food safety agencies of Vietnam and the customs authorities of Guangxi and Yunnan provinces.

Earlier, on January 15, the working delegation conducted a survey and held discussions at the exemplary rural model of Xiao Lu village in Hei Zhang Hu commune (Chaoyang, Beijing), specializing in ornamental fish farming and the local investment promotion center. Both parties agreed to promptly organize survey trips, and exchange experiences in rural development, rural revitalization, and the construction of new rural areas.

On January 17, the working delegation met with Mr. Chen Liang Xian, a representative of the leadership of Guangdong Province. Guangdong Province affirmed that its strong traditional relations with Vietnam would create conditions for businesses from both countries to cooperate in trade and investment, and encourage enhanced collaboration in agricultural science and technology. During the meeting, Mr. Chen directed the scheduling of the delegation's working session with the Agricultural Science Institute of Guangdong.

The Institute's leadership proposed to Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam the inclusion of cooperation content between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Guangdong Provincial Government in the memorandum of understanding on scientific and technological research cooperation.

The memorandum of understanding will include the establishment of a Center for Agricultural Science and Technology Research Cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and Guangdong Province (China) to sponsor and support key projects under the auspices of the agriculture ministries of both countries and the Guangdong Provincial Government; sending postgraduate researchers and exchanging experts.

On the morning of January 18, the delegation conducted a survey and held discussions with the largest fruit and vegetable wholesale market management company, Jiangnan, in Guangdong, China. This location not only supplies fruits and vegetables to Guangdong but also serves as a transit point for other provinces nationwide. Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam agreed to coordinate with the relevant units of the Ministry to support businesses from both sides in establishing channels for sharing market information and high-quality agricultural supply chain logistics from Vietnam to the Jiangnan market.

In the afternoon of the same day, the working delegation collaborated with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangzhou, the Guangzhou Trade Promotion Center, and the Sunwah Group to organize a seminar on "Trade Cooperation, Development of Vietnamese-Chinese Agriculture." The event saw the participation of over 40 agricultural enterprises and logistics companies from both sides, aiming to connect agricultural enterprises and logistics services for agricultural trade between the two countries.

On January 19, the delegation worked with Higreen Agricultural Trading Group and surveyed the commercial infrastructure and agricultural logistics in Shenzhen, Guangdong.

During the working trip, the delegation engaged with the China Inspection and Testing Group visited and exchanged work with the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing, and the Consulate General of Vietnam in Guangzhou.