Romania and China keen to develop livestock cooperation
Earlier this month, Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu, met with Daniel Constantin, Romania’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, as part of an official visit to the country.
During a meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), both parties showed a keenness to develop agricultural collaboration between the two countries, with a Memorandum of Understanding signed to underline China’s and Romania’s plans.
Priority areas of cooperation agreed on included livestock, through the investment and trade of cattle, sheep and pigs, as well as investment and trade in the processing and marketing of agricultural products, such as pork and other meat products.
According to an official statement from the MARD, encouraging investment in agriculture was considered important as it would lead to greater access of products to both markets.
Changfu put forward a three-point proposal, which included the development of a Working Group on Agricultural Cooperation, as a regular way to facilitate a two-way exchange, as well as enhancing the exchange of information, and promoting agricultural trade through exhibitions and trade fairs.
The MARD said it would work alongside the National Veterinary and Food Safety Authority in Romania on the development of the working group.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the People’s Republic of China, the friendly relations between China and Central and Eastern Europe were offering new opportunities for Chinese/Romanian agricultural cooperation.
The visit (6-8 June) followed the signing of a Joint Declaration to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, in Bucharest, in November 2013.
Following the meetings this month, Ponta said: "We are keen to intensify our efforts, and make agricultural collaboration a highlight in the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries."
