Vietnam - China cooperate in producing and consuming tea and coffee

On the occasion of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of PR of China Han Changfu paid an official visit to Vietnam, in the framework of the dicussions between Ministers of the two countries, this morning (October 14) in Hanoi, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized the “Vietnam - China tea and coffee production and consumption cooperation forum”.

With the purpose of connecting trade and cooperation in tea and coffee production and consumption between Vietnam and China, the forum is an opportunity for state agencies, localities and businesses of the two countries to exchange cooperation in developing production, processing and trading of tea and coffee, thereby orienting production and processing in order to develop commerce to meet market requirements and tastes. At the same time, it could help businesses to strengthen links in production, supply of raw materials for processing and linkages in developing consumer markets, ensuring the common interests of the two countries.

Commenting on opportunities for cooperation and export of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Vietnam in general, tea and coffee in particular to the Chinese market, delegates said that for agricultural and aquatic products, China is Vietnam's largest export market, on average, accounts for 27% of the country's total agricultural and aquatic product export value and accounts for 30% of total export turnover of all kinds of goods to this market. However, China is currently only the 12th import market for coffee and the 4th for tea in Vietnam. Therefore, the potential and demand for agricultural products importing to Chinese market is still very large; Therefore, the important issue now is how businesses can find ways of processing to bring higher value for coffee products, in which the most important thing is technology. Processing technology must be enhanced and constantly sought, innovated to improve the value of coffee.

Speaking at the Forum, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong affirmed that Vietnam and China are the two major agricultural export powers in the world, the agricultural products of the two countries are complementary. To develop and have similar cultural characteristics in tea and coffee use, this is a great opportunity for businesses of the two countries to cooperate in developing production, processing and trading of tea and coffee. It also aims at a global market with a population of 7.7 billion people.

Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong expressed his wish at this forum to grasp the information, explore more opportunities, especially seek cooperation to exploit the best strengths of the market and resources of the group. Agricultural products participate in global value chains. In the immediate future, to serve the market for the main markets of the people of the two countries and to serve the global market with 7.7 billion people.

Share at the forum, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the PR. Of China Han Changfu said that China and Vietnam are countries with tradition of growing tea with large output. We have important positions in the world tea market and China is a big market in Vietnam's tea exports. Tea and coffee of Vietnam holds an important position in the Chinese market. Many businesses have grown in Vietnam like Vinacoffe and have been well received by the Chinese people. I hope to have more big market space to develop Vietnam's tea and coffee industry in China.

Immediately after speaking at the Forum, both Ministers held bilateral discussions on development cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two countries.