Cross-strait agricultural product quarantine cooperation deepens, further promoting economic and trade development
China Economic Net, Beijing, June 15 (reported by China Economic Net reporter) - China Economic Net reporters have learned that, in order to implement the "Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement" and promote the sustained and healthy development of cross-strait agricultural product trade, from June 8 to 13, the 8th Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Inspection and Quarantine Seminar, jointly held by the Mainland Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association and the Taiwan Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Development Association, was convened in Yilan, Taiwan, China. Zhang Qinrong, Honorary President of the Mainland Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association, and Wang Zhengteng, Chairman of the Taiwan Central Livestock Association, attended the opening ceremony of the seminar and delivered speeches. More than 80 inspection and quarantine experts and scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait participated in the seminar.
In his speech, Zhang Qinrong pointed out that since the signing of the cooperation agreement, the two sides have established mechanisms for agricultural product inspection and quarantine seminars, consultations and liaison points, which have become one of the important platforms for enhancing friendship, expanding consensus and strengthening cooperation across the Taiwan Strait. Exchanges between the two sides in the field of inspection and quarantine have become increasingly in-depth and candid, and substantive results have been achieved, resolving the market access issues for 23 kinds of Taiwanese fruit, 12 kinds of vegetables, rice and livestock and poultry products exported to the mainland, and resolving the issues of mainland hairy crabs, cherries and pear scions exported to Taiwan, China. Facilitation measures for customs clearance of related products and quarantine treatment measures for key products are being actively negotiated, and communication channels such as electronic phytosanitary certificates and quarantine information exchange platforms are being increasingly improved.
Zhang Qinrong stated that the current stable development of cross-strait agricultural product trade has a more solid foundation, better conditions and stronger momentum. To further implement the "Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement", it is hoped that cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine cooperation will be promoted in 5 aspects: first, focus on resolving the quarantine access issues of important agricultural products; second, continue to strengthen cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine information exchanges; third, continuously deepen cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine technical cooperation; fourth, raise the level of customs clearance facilitation for cross-strait agricultural products; fifth, coordinate the advancement of animal and plant quarantine management strategies and institutional development under new trade formats.
Zhang Qinrong pointed out that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same roots and origins, the same language and ethnicity, and have always shared a common destiny. In today's world of deepening economic globalization and increasingly close cross-strait ties, close exchanges are even more in line with the common interests of the people on both sides. We must firmly seize opportunities, meet challenges, and, by deepening cooperation, safeguard the process of peaceful development of cross-strait relations and jointly build a cross-strait community with a shared future. Inspection and quarantine workers should cherish the great opportunity of peaceful cross-strait development, strengthen cooperation, further promote the development of cross-strait agricultural product trade, and let the fruits of cross-strait relations development benefit more grassroots people and small and medium-sized enterprises, benefiting the people on both sides.
Wang Zhengteng, Chairman of the Taiwan Central Livestock Association, said in his speech that in 2014 the total cross-strait agricultural product trade volume reached 1.96 billion US dollars, an increase of 114% compared with 910 million US dollars before the signing of the "Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement" in 2009. The rapid growth of agricultural product trade between the two sides is attributable to the implementation of the cooperation agreement. Through the platform established by the cooperation agreement, the two sides maintain timely contact, share information, and promptly resolve inspection and quarantine issues in agricultural product trade, preventing the spread of harmful organisms. At the same time, in-depth exchanges and cooperation in inspection and quarantine technology and standards have created favorable conditions for expanding cross-strait economic and trade exchanges, strengthening cross-strait economic and trade ties and promoting cross-strait economic development. Wang Zhengteng said he deeply hopes that both sides can continue to deepen the cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine cooperation mechanism, facilitate more agricultural product trade development, and let the results of these efforts benefit the people on both sides.
China Economic Net reporters learned that at the seminar, experts from both sides reviewed the situation of cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine cooperation in recent years and focused on giving speeches and exchanges on topics such as pet food, ornamental fish, seedlings and flowers, fruit inspection and quarantine policies, management norms for genetically modified products, and the rearing and management of experimental dogs and working dogs.
During the meeting, experts from both sides also held the 11th working consultation on implementing the "Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement", conducting in-depth discussion and exchange on 19 issues of mutual concern, including quarantine access for pet food, fruit and fresh mushrooms, facilitated customs clearance for Taiwanese fruit exported to the mainland, the application of quarantine dogs, and cooperation on electronic inspection and quarantine certificates, and achieved remarkable results: Taiwanese grapes and cherries from Shanxi Province, mainland China respectively obtained quarantine access and can achieve trade in the current production season; breakthrough progress was made on the inspection and quarantine issues of Taiwanese pet food and ornamental fish exported to the mainland; agreement was reached to carry out cooperation and exchange in quarantine dog training technology; and agreement was reached to carry out cooperation on electronic inspection and quarantine certificates. Other topics also made progress to varying degrees, and a certain consensus was reached. Experts from both sides said that, under the framework of ECFA and the "Cross-Strait Agricultural Product Quarantine and Inspection Cooperation Agreement", they will continue to strengthen cooperation and exchange, earnestly implement the consensus reached at this seminar, and fully give play to the role of inspection and quarantine in promoting the development of cross-strait agricultural product trade.
During the seminar, the mainland delegation visited the Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, conducted business exchanges with experts from the Animal Science and Technology Laboratory, and inspected agricultural product production and trade enterprises such as the Taiwan Branch of Hong Kong China Inspection Company, the King Car Whisky Distillery, the King Car Orchid Garden, the Farmers' Association of Yuchi Township, Nantou County, the Kaixin Industrial Co., Ltd. of Yunlin County, and the Pineapple Cooperative of Minxiong Township, Chiayi County, conducting face-to-face exchanges with producers and operators and explaining the mainland's inspection and quarantine policies and facilitation measures toward Taiwan, China, achieving good results. Jiang Yinan, Director of the Taiwan Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Development Association, and others accompanied the mainland delegation throughout its activities.