Deepen the cooperation of agricultural products quarantine between the two sides of the strait to further promote economic and trade development

Beijing, June 15-China Economic Network reporter learned that in order to implement the Agreement on Cooperation in Inspection and Quarantine of Agricultural Products across the Taiwan Strait and promote the sustained and healthy development of agricultural trade across the Taiwan Strait, the 8th Cross-Strait Agricultural Products Inspection and Quarantine Seminar jointly organized by the Mainland Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association and the Taiwan Animal and Plant Quarantine and Inspection Development Association was held in Yilan, Taiwan from June 8 to 13. Zhang Qinrong, Honorary President of the Mainland Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association, and Wang Zhengteng, Chairman of the Taiwan Central Animal Husbandry 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 attended the seminar.

Zhang Qinrong pointed out in his speech that since the signing of the cooperation agreement, the two sides have established a mechanism for agricultural product inspection and quarantine discussions, consultations and contact points, which has become one of the important platforms for enhancing friendship, expanding consensus and strengthening cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Cross-strait exchanges in the field of inspection and quarantine have become more and more in-depth and frank, and substantive results have been achieved. The problem of Taiwan's 23 kinds of fruits, 12 kinds of vegetables, rice and livestock products exported to the mainland has been solved. The problem of mainland hairy crabs, cherries and pear scions exported to Taiwan has been solved. Convenient customs clearance measures for related products and quarantine treatment measures for key products are under negotiation. Electronic plant quarantine certificates, Quarantine information exchange platform and other channels are increasingly perfect.

Zhang Qinrong said that the current stable development of cross-strait agricultural trade has a more stable foundation, better conditions and stronger impetus, further implement the Agreement on Inspection and Quarantine of Agricultural Products across the Taiwan Strait, and hope to promote cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine cooperation from five aspects: First, focus on solving the quarantine access problem of important agricultural products; Second, continue to strengthen the exchange of information on inspection and quarantine of agricultural products across the Taiwan Strait; Third, continuously deepen technical cooperation on inspection and quarantine of agricultural products across the Taiwan Strait; Fourth, improve the level of customs clearance facilitation for agricultural products across the Taiwan Strait; fifth, coordinate and promote the construction of animal and plant quarantine management strategies and systems under new trade formats.

Zhang Qinrong pointed out that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have the same roots, the same language and the same species, and have always shared a common destiny. today, when economic globalization is developing in depth and cross-strait ties are getting closer and closer, closer exchanges are more in line with the common interests of the people on both sides of the strait. We should firmly seize opportunities and meet challenges. Through deepening cooperation, we should safeguard the peaceful development process of cross-strait relations and work together to build a community of destiny across the Taiwan Strait. Inspection and quarantine workers should cherish the excellent opportunity for peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait, strengthen cooperation, further promote the development of cross-strait agricultural trade, and make the achievements of cross-strait relations more beneficial to grassroots people, small and medium-sized enterprises and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Wang Zhengteng, chairman of the Taiwan Central Livestock Council, said in his speech that the total amount of agricultural trade between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in 2014 had reached US $1.96 billion, an increase of 114% over US $910 million before the signing of the Agreement on Quarantine and Inspection of Agricultural Products between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in 2009. The rapid growth of agricultural trade between the two sides is attributed to the implementation of the cooperation agreement. Through the platform established by the cooperation agreement, the two sides can contact in time, share information, solve inspection and quarantine problems in agricultural products trade in a timely manner, and prevent the spread of pests. 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 that he deeply hopes that the two sides can continue to deepen the cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine cooperation mechanism, promote the development of more agricultural product trade, and let the fruits of their efforts benefit the people on both sides of the strait.

China Economic Network reporter understands, At the seminar, Cross-strait experts reviewed the cross-strait agricultural product inspection and quarantine cooperation in recent years, Focus on pet food, ornamental fish, seedling flowers, Fruit inspection and quarantine policy, Genetically modified products management norms and experimental dogs and working dog domestication management and other topics for speeches and exchanges.

During the meeting, experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait also held the 11th working meeting on the implementation of the Agreement on Cooperation in Quarantine and Inspection of Agricultural Products across the Taiwan Strait. They conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges on 19 issues of concern to both sides, such as quarantine access for pet food, fruits, fresh mushrooms and other products, convenient customs clearance for Taiwan fruits exported to the mainland, application of quarantine dogs, cooperation in electronic inspection and quarantine certificates, and achieved remarkable results: Taiwan grapes and cherries from the mainland of Shanxi Province were granted quarantine access respectively, and trade could be realized in this production season. Breakthrough progress has been made in the inspection and quarantine of pet food and ornamental fish exported from Taiwan to the mainland; technical cooperation and exchanges on quarantine dog training have been agreed; and cooperation on electronic inspection and quarantine certificates has been agreed. Other topics have also made progress to varying degrees and reached a certain consensus. Experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait said that they would continue to strengthen cooperation and exchanges under the framework of ECFA and the Agreement on Cooperation in Inspection and Quarantine of Agricultural Products across the Taiwan Strait, earnestly implement the consensus reached at this seminar, and give full play to the role of inspection and quarantine in promoting the development of cross-strait agricultural trade.

During the seminar, the mainland delegation visited the Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, had business exchanges with experts from the Animal Science and Technology Laboratory, inspected agricultural product production and trade enterprises such as the Taiwan Branch of the Hong Kong China Inspection Company, Jinche Whisky Distillery, Jinche Orchid Garden, Yuchi Township Farmers Association of Nantou County, Kaixin Industrial Co., Ltd. of Yunlin County, Pineapple Cooperative of Minxiong Township of Chiayi County, etc., had face-to-face exchanges with producers and operators, and publicized the mainland's inspection and quarantine policies and facilitation measures towards Taiwan. received good results. Jiang Yinan, chairman of the Taiwan Animal and Plant Quarantine and Inspection Development Association, accompanied the mainland delegation throughout its activities.