During a recent visit to China, Romanian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Florin Barbu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding agricultural cooperation between Romania and China, a document that is intended to freshen up bilateral cooperation and open up new agri-food export opportunities for Romania to external markets.
New impetus in Romanian-Chinese agri-food relations
According to a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the document establishes a solid framework for bilateral cooperation in key areas such as food security, investment in agriculture, agri-food processing, research and innovation, as well as the exchange of modern technologies.
'This partnership sends a clear message: Romania no longer accepts the role of a mere exporter of raw materials. We are strengthening our position as a supplier of value-added agri-food products, opening up new markets and attracting investment in processing. Cooperation with the People's Republic of China represents a real opportunity for Romania's farmers and food industry,' Florin Barbu said in the press release.
The memorandum also includes cooperation in areas of major interest for Romanian agriculture, such as the wine industry, the development of processing capacities, technology transfer and professional training, as well as the attraction of reciprocal investments.
The memorandum is valid for five years, with the possibility of extension, and will be implemented through a joint working group that will set priorities and concrete cooperation projects.
Veterinary protocols signed as well
National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) President Alexandru Nicolae Bociu, part of the same delegation to China, signed three sanitary-veterinary protocols with representatives of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China, regulating inspection and quarantine conditions for heat-treated poultry meat, dairy products exported from Romania and wild aquatic products destined for the Chinese market.
The technical and food safety component was a key pillar of the official visit by the Romanian delegation to China. "The signing of these three protocols is the result of sustained technical efforts by ANSVSA specialists to ensure that Romanian products comply with the rigorous requirements of our Chinese partners. Our mission is to provide farmers with the sanitary-veterinary tools needed to export consistently and competitively, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the sector and to balancing Romania's trade balance (…). Our experts have developed a robust technical framework (…) - effectively a 'passport' for certain types of food, based on a professional technical effort," said President Bociu.
New chance to equilibrate Romania’s negative agri-food trade balance
'It is official!’ wrote Minister Barbu on his social media. ‘Romania is starting exports to China. Today, export protocols between Romania and China were signed for heat-treated poultry meat, dairy products and aquatic products. Within a maximum of two months, we will also begin exporting cereals, and we are in advanced discussions to start exports of pork and processed pork products'.
The conclusion of these agreements and the strengthening of the Romanian-Chinese partnership are meant to provide Romanian companies a stable legal framework and the predictability needed to access new consumer markets, in the attempt to reinforce Romania's presence in global trade and contribute to a future improvement of Romania’s agri-food trade balance.