August 21, 2014
China and Russia to expand agricultural trade
China''s Ministry of Commerce said that China is willing to work with Russia to expand two-way agricultural trade, following the recent announcement that Russia is removing restrictions on the supply of pork from China.
Based on the China-Russia all-round partnership of strategic cooperation, China is willing to boost economic and trade relations with Russia, and will continue to create conditions for bilateral cooperation in the energy, agriculture, infrastructure and high-tech sectors, said the spokesman from the Chinese ministry, Shen Danyang.
Agricultural produce trade between the two countries has a unique edge and growth potential, he said, adding that the Chinese side will encourage both Chinese and Russian companies to increase agricultural produce trade. Chinese companies exported agricultural produce valued to US$2.1 billion to Russia in 2013.
Russian authorities expect that the pork deliveries from China, which will need to meet biological safety conditions, will replace the banned European Union supply on the Russian market.
"We consider only the largest players - vertically integrated groups, which have the level of work that allows them to ensure the security of supplies and which have experience in the export of their products," said the head of the Russian veterinary watchdog Rosselhoznadzor, Sergei Dankvert.
Dankvert said that the final list of companies, which will receive permission to export, will be announced soon.