Beijing (VNA) - Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung met with Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhang Zhu on August 24 on the sidelines of the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Hangzhou, China.
The two ministers exchanged views and reached agreement on a number of important measures to further promote agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and China.
They held that agriculture is an important area of cooperation that contributes to realising the common perceptions reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders and creates fresh momentum for the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership towards mutual benefit, shared development and a shared future.
The officials agreed to continue strengthening practical and effective cooperation, maintain growth in two-way trade in agricultural, forestry and fishery products, and enhance cooperation in agricultural science and technology, rural development and environmental protection.
The ministers also pledged to closely coordinate with relevant agencies in their respective countries to facilitate trade, provide mutual support in handling procedures and ensure smooth trade in traditional agricultural products, while opening markets to new agricultural products from both sides.
Regarding spiny lobster, the Chinese side welcomed high-quality and safe farmed seafood products from Vietnam, saying this would help diversify supplies to the Chinese market.
China is also ready to work with Vietnam on technical cooperation in research and artificial breeding of spiny lobster, gradually standardising breeding, farming and reproduction management to ensure the conditions necessary for exports to the Chinese market. Such cooperation would not only promote seafood trade but also help conserve wild spiny lobster stocks, reduce fishing pressure and support sustainable fisheries development.
At the meeting, Zhang agreed with Hung’s cooperation proposals and accepted the invitation to attend the APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting to be held in Vietnam in 2027.
The two sides agreed to coordinate the organisation of the third meeting of the Vietnam-China Joint Committee on Agricultural Cooperation in Vietnam during APEC 2027, creating an additional mechanism to boost bilateral agricultural cooperation.
They will also study the organisation of a forum on trade and investment connectivity in agriculture in Vietnam on the occasion of APEC 2027. The forum is expected to provide a platform for businesses to connect and expand opportunities for trade, investment and production cooperation, helping deepen and further substantiate Vietnam-China agricultural cooperation.
At the end of the meeting, Hung thanked the Chinese Government, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, General Administration of Customs of China, as well as Chinese agencies and localities, for their continued attention, support and active coordination with Vietnam in the agricultural sector.
He expressed his hope for continued close coordination and cooperation from the Chinese side, and looked forward to meeting Zhang again at agricultural cooperation activities and other events within the framework of APEC 2027 in Vietnam./.
VNA
