China to support Vietnam in enhancing sturgeon inspection capacity

In June 6, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Trung and Deputy Director-General of the General Administration of Customs of China Zhao Zenglian held a meeting in Hanoi.

Leaders of both agencies reached a high consensus on cooperation in trade and market access for agricultural, forestry, and fishery products between the two countries. Over recent years, the cooperative relationship between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the General Administration of Customs of China has continually strengthened and become more substantial. Notably, during the complex developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, both sides worked closely and flexibly to ensure that trade in agricultural, forestry, and fishery products between the two countries was not disrupted. Moreover, both nations adopted flexible measures such as online evaluations and indirect signing of protocols to open markets for agricultural products.

In 2023, the turnover of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products between the two countries reached USD 15.53 billion, with exports amounting to USD 12.1 billion (up 16.4% compared to 2022) and imports totaling USD 3.4 billion (down 9.7% compared to 2022). In the first five months of this year, the total trade turnover in these sectors between the two countries reached USD 6.2 billion (up 2.9% compared to the same period last year). Of this, Vietnam’s exports to China are estimated to be USD 4.6 billion (up 8.6% from 2023), while imports are estimated at USD 1.6 billion (up 31.5%).

Currently, the two sides have signed 21 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and protocols on the export and import of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. During the meeting, both parties agreed to finalize protocols for the export of crocodiles, raw bird’s nests, poultry, and harvested seafood from Vietnam to China. Chinese institutes will instruct relevant technical agencies to review and expedite the registration process for the export of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products to China, facilitating favorable conditions for trade cooperation in these sectors.

Both sides also reached a high consensus on resolving difficulties related to the export of sturgeon from China to Vietnam and discussed measures to promote sturgeon trade, addressing issues to enhance management and thus facilitate smooth export activities. On this occasion, China announced its support for Vietnam in enhancing its capacity to inspect sturgeon species.

(Source: https://vietfishmagazine.com/)