Agriculture Min meets Chinese Ambassador

Greek exports to China were discussed at a Monday meeting between the Minister of Agriculture and Food Makis Voridis and Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Greece Zhang Qiyue.

Talks included the immediate promotion of Greek agricultural products to China's market, starting with an agreement on saffron exports being signed in September, as well as the signing of agreements to export grapes, citrus fruits and kernel fruits such as peaches, apricots and cherries.

The issue of revising the kiwi protocol was also discussed, which means that it will now be possible to export it from all regions of Greece instead of only some, as it currently stands.

Zhang Qiyue noted that Greece, as a products' brand name, has an increasing recognition in the Chinese market.

Voridis referred to the issue of health plant protocols required by China so as to be able to export medicinal plants to Greece, and emphasized the possibility of exchanging know-how on health plants and also customs procedures to facilitate trade, all this in view of starting trade in 2020, the International Year of Plant Health.

Discussions included the acquisition, by Greece, of a commercial position at Ningbo port, China, which comprises a new commercial zone, located on the East China coast, at the crossroads of inland and north-to-south coastal shipping.

Finally, Voridis accepted the Chinese Government's invitation to the Shanghai World Fair, 5-10 November 2019, in which Greece will participate as an honored country.