A forum between Vietnam and China on agriculture, forestry, and fishery trade connectivity was held in Vietnam's northern Lang Son province on December 3.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural development Tran Thanh Nam emphasized that, under the directives of both Vietnamese and Chinese leaders, the two governments and their business communities have made significant efforts to boost economic and trade cooperation.

China is Vietnam's largest trading partner and a key market for agricultural, forestry, and fishery products. Bilateral trade between the two countries accounts for one-quarter of Vietnam's total trade with the world. Conversely, Vietnam is one of China's major global trading partners and its largest within ASEAN.

Leveraging China’s Vast Market

Adding to this, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality, Processing, and Market Development (under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), highlighted consistent growth in agricultural, forestry, and fishery trade between the two countries.

He noted that in the first 11 months of 2024, bilateral trade in these sectors reached $16 billion, up 13.4 per cent compared to the same period in 2022, 29 per cent and 40 per cent compared to 2020 and 2021, respectively. Of this, exports accounted for $12.2 billion, an increase of 11 per cent. Products experiencing strong growth included fruits and vegetables ($4.1 billion, up 28.7 per cent), wood and wood products ($1.7 billion, up 22.3 per cent), and seafood ($1.4 billion, up 23.2 per cent).

Currently, China has agreed to import products from 11 dairy plants and 9 bird's nest enterprises of Vietnam. Protocols for exporting farmed monkeys and crocodiles to China have also been signed. China has approved the import of 48 types of live aquatic species and 128 processed seafood products, and 596 Vietnamese seafood enterprises are licensed to export to China.

However, to export agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products to China, Vietnamese goods must comply with China's Food Safety Law of 2015 and its Animal and Plant Quarantine Law for imports and exports. Exporters must meet strict requirements regarding production facilities, equipment, and quality testing to ensure food safety. Vietnamese authorities must inspect and certify products in accordance with both countries' regulations before granting export codes.

According to the Vice Chairman of Lang Son Provincial People's Committee Luong Trong Quynh, in recent years, border trade, economic activities at border gates, and supporting services have consistently been identified by the province as key economic sectors, serving as a driving force and making significant contributions to the province's socio-economic development.

To this end, the province has proactively implemented comprehensive measures to effectively manage and facilitate the import and export of goods. Special attention has been given to Vietnam's agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, which are key export strengths, accounting for approximately 75-80 per cent of the total export value of goods with customs declarations processed in the province.

These include investments to build and upgrade transportation infrastructure, gradually improving interregional and international connectivity with several key projects being actively implemented.

According to him, Lang Son provincial government has also focused on developing, expanding, and upgrading border gate infrastructure and warehousing systems, creating favorable conditions for businesses engaged in import and export activities.

From the Chinese perspective, Mr. Li Rui, Vice mayor of Yiwu city in Zhejiang province, stated many Vietnamese products such as mung bean cakes, coconut candy, cashews, dried lychee, durian, jackfruit, and dragon fruit are currently sold in his city and are well-received by local consumers.

"In the first 10 months of this year, Yiwu's trade turnover with Vietnam reached $893 million, a 25 per cent increase compared to the same period last year", he said.

He hoped that authorities and localities in both countries will provide support and coordinate efforts to resolve difficulties and obstacles related to the import and export of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products between the two sides.

"We are committed to actively implementing agreements between the leaders of both countries, fostering discussions, and promoting cooperation with Vietnam across various sectors, contributing to the economic development of both nations," the Chinese city's representative affirmed.

Three key tasks

While commending the efforts of Lang Son province as well as that of related Vietnamese agencies, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam also emphasized three primary tasks to further enhance trade and economic cooperation between Vietnam and China:

Firstly, Vietnamese authorities must proactively negotiate to seek markets for new products, expand planting and farming areas, and increase the number of enterprises eligible to export to China. Efforts should also focus on addressing trade barriers, disseminating regulations, and guiding businesses to meet China's import requirements. Additionally, both sides need to promptly update each other on new regulations, market demands, and consumer trends in China.

Secondly, authorities should streamline production chains by linking specialized farming regions with export processing enterprises to create standardized raw material zones. Coordination between central and local agencies is crucial to ensure the issuance of planting and farming codes for export. Transparency in information related to planting regions, farming areas, and seasonal packaging facilities is essential. Efforts must also focus on quality standardization, production processes, and branding, with support from industry associations and businesses to maximize resources.

Lastly, in 2025 and beyond, Vietnam needs to develop the Chinese market sustainably with a focus on quality. In addition to maintaining trade through  China's southern border routes, efforts should explore distribution channels in its northern provinces and engage in cross-border e-commerce to deliver products directly to Chinese consumers.

These initiatives underscore the commitment of both nations to fostering a robust, sustainable, and mutually beneficial trade relationship.