These are the products that China wants to import from Greece – Eugenakis visit to the Asian country (pics)

The Deputy Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr. Zhao Zenglian, described the visit of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Mr. Lefteris Avgenakis, as a “milestone of substantial cooperation between Greece and China”.

The meeting lasted much longer than planned, with the presence of the Deputy Minister, Mr. Zhao Zenglian as well as officials of the General Administration of Customs and was held in a very positive atmosphere, with the result that problems were addressed and technical details that remained for a long time were resolved Pending.

It was clear the will of both sides to solve technical problems, to improve and to strengthen Greek exports of agricultural products such as Cherries, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots Citrus, Grapes, Strawberries and Apples to the large market of China.

The last outstanding issues were dealt with so that the date of signing the two Greece-China cooperation protocols in the fisheries sector can now be seen in a short period of time.

These are two “cooperation protocols on fisheries catches and farmed catches”. With the signing of the two protocols, it will be possible to export from our country all wild catches and their products of Greek production, including roe, and the list of farmed catches and their products will be expanded, including salmon.

The chronic backlogs that kept the export of Greek dairy products and honey at a standstill were analyzed to a great extent and in detail. With the contribution of service agents of both embassies of our countries, it is expected that they will be resolved shortly.

Corresponding answers and clarifications were given to the questions that had arisen after the ban on imports from China of skins of goats and sheep (in 2023), cattle (in 2016) and pigs.

Optimism was evident in dealing with accumulated outstanding issues which for the first time were adequately answered by both sides.

Corresponding explanations were given after the detailed discussion about processed and canned food for companion animals (petfood), factory-washed sheep’s wool, while there was a great discussion about the difficulties recorded from the Greek side in the export activity of stone fruits (cherries, plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Citrus Fruits, Grapes, Strawberries and Apples). Discussion also took place on the issue of mandarin exports.

As said by the Chinese side, “today’s meeting creates a great prospect for stronger trade cooperation in the export of agricultural products from Greece to China, in kiwifruit, juices, fish, leather, dairy, poultry, wine, honey, cattle, sheep, goats, pork and olive oil”.

In closing, the Chinese side requested from the Greek Minister that there be intensive exchanges of visits and collaborations between executives of the two Ministries and representatives of institutional productive bodies in the primary sector, which was accepted by the Ministry of AAT.

Also, the Chinese Vice Minister was asked to sign a “Memorandum of Cooperation on Livestock and Phytosanitary Issues” with the strong belief that it will provide solutions to the individual difficulties between the two countries arising from the African plague and goat pox diseases that were hampering exports to China.

The Chinese Deputy Minister pledged that soon there will be a Committee of Chinese Experts who will visit agricultural units and veterinary facilities in our country, talk to the competent services in Greece and clarify issues concerning the nutritionally safe import of Greek agricultural products to China.

The visit ended with the symbolic exchange of gifts, in a warm and friendly atmosphere as befits the long-standing close relations between the two countries.

The positive outcome of the meeting was expressed by the Chinese Deputy Minister, who characterized the visit of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis, as a “milestone of substantial cooperation between Greece and China”.