Minister Nguyen Hong Dien attended and opened the Vietnam Fruit Festival in Beijing, China.

The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development with the cooperation of the Vietnamese Embassy in China, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association and Chinese partners.

The festival was held at the Xinfadi Agricultural Products Distribution Center in Fengtai District, Beijing. This is the largest fruit wholesale market in Beijing, distributing all kinds of fruits imported into China from around the world. The center not only serves the needs of more than 22 million people in Beijing but also neighboring areas such as Hubei, Tianjin, etc.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien delivered the opening speech at the Vietnam Fruit Festival held in Beijing, China.

Vietnam – Paradise of tropical fruits

Speaking at the Fruit Festival, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed his delight that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam, in collaboration with Chinese partners, organized the Vietnam Fruit Festival with the theme "Vietnamese Fruit - Four Seasons of Deliciousness" - an important trade promotion event, on the sidelines of the 13th Session of the Vietnam - China Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that Vietnam is located in a tropical, monsoon climate zone - this place is considered a paradise for tropical plants; in particular, there are many fertile fruit gardens, stretching across the country, with the diversity and sophistication of many types of fruit (from the sweet and juicy taste of Rambutan, Longan, Green-skinned Grapefruit, Watermelon; the refreshing taste of fresh Coconut, Dragon Fruit; to the strange taste of Mangosteen, Passion Fruit and the wonderful, fatty taste of Jackfruit, Durian). With an annual output of 12-14 million tons, Vietnam's fruit products not only meet domestic consumption needs but also serve exports with a turnover of nearly 3.5 billion USD per year. Besides fresh fruit products, Vietnam also exports many processed fruit products, such as dried fruit, frozen fruit, fruit jam, crushed vegetables, fruit juices, etc.

In recent years, the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has been developing very well, bringing practical benefits to both sides; in which economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has increasingly developed deeply and broadly and achieved many important and positive results, despite the global economic downturn.

As evidence, China has continuously maintained its position as Vietnam's largest trading partner and Vietnam is currently China's largest trading partner in ASEAN and fifth in the world; in terms of supplying fruits and fruit products, Vietnam is China's third largest partner in the world (after Thailand and Chile) with many products that have established a solid position and are favored by Chinese consumers.

“ In particular, in recent years, with the cooperation of the authorities and the efforts of businesses of the two countries, more and more Vietnamese fruits have been officially exported to China. These are products of outstanding quality, with clear traceability, meeting plant quarantine standards and having standardized packaging facilities, packaging and labels in accordance with Chinese standards and regulations,” the Minister assessed.

However, according to Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, the results achieved in the past have not been commensurate with the potential, needs and strengths of each side. Currently, Vietnamese fruits are still mainly exported to China through border trade to meet the market demand of some localities in the southern and southeastern regions of China and provinces adjacent to Vietnam.

“ In other localities, the presence of Vietnamese fruit products is still quite modest; while the demand for fruit consumption in the Chinese market is very large and the ability to supply high-quality specialty fruits of Vietnam is abundant; along with the advantages of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements of which the two countries are members, and the geographical location of “mountains next to mountains, rivers next to rivers”, convenient for transportation. Therefore, there is still a lot of room for fruit businesses of the two countries to exploit and promote ” - Minister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed.

Wishing to continue expanding the list of Vietnamese fruits and agricultural products officially exported to China

According to Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, the organization of the Vietnam Fruit Festival in Beijing is an initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam to contribute to implementing and realizing the commitments and political determination of the two countries' senior leaders after the visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and the visit to China by General Secretary and President To Lam.

Although it was only held for the first time, the Festival has attracted and gathered many large enterprises exporting fresh fruits and processed fruit products from Vietnam to display, introduce products and serve Chinese consumers (most of the fruits present here have been officially exported to the Chinese market). Within the framework of this Festival, there will be direct trading activities between Vietnamese enterprises and Chinese fruit importers and distributors; Product experience program and Discussion on the export potential of Vietnamese fruits.

This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese producers and suppliers to introduce and promote their brands and images of typical fruit products, as well as to meet and seek customers, strengthen trade activities, and build sustainable cooperative relationships with potential partners in fruit import in China; at the same time, it is a favorable opportunity for a large number of Chinese consumers to directly experience the quality and unique, distinctive flavors of Vietnamese fruits, especially for consumers in Beijing and northern China - where they do not have regular access to high-quality Vietnamese fruits, thereby helping to promote the national brand for agricultural products in general and Vietnamese fruits in particular to the Chinese market. This event will also be a premise and experience for organizing specialized festivals more regularly, not only in Beijing, but also in other localities of China to connect and expand the export of Vietnamese fruits to this large market.

“ The Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam hope that the Chinese authorities will continue to coordinate and facilitate quarantine, customs clearance of goods and resolve issues related to bilateral economic and trade policies between the two countries, facilitating cooperation and trade between the business communities of the two countries; especially continuing to open the market, expanding the list of fruits and agricultural products of Vietnam that are officially exported to China to contribute to spreading more strongly the unique and delicious flavors of Vietnamese fruits to friends and Chinese consumers ” - Minister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed, and also emphasized that Vietnam is ready to create favorable conditions according to the provisions of law for many types of Chinese fruits to be imported into the Vietnamese market, as well as helping Chinese enterprises to invest and do business effectively and sustainably in Vietnam, because your success is also our success.

“ With similarities in culture and cuisine, along with increasing understanding and concern for health and the increasing demand for natural, high-quality products among the people, Vietnamese fruits and fruit products will certainly be a good choice for many wise Chinese consumers, ” Minister Nguyen Hong Dien believes.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam

Also at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said, This is the first time the Fruit Festival has been held and is a valuable opportunity for businesses and consumers of the two countries to enjoy delicious, pure fruits of Vietnam. This event is very important, marking the good results of cooperation in the field of agriculture and agricultural trade between the two countries. This is also a very valuable opportunity for businesses of both sides to connect, trade, and promote cooperation in developing the fruit industry of the two countries.

Deputy Director of the Asian Department (Ministry of Commerce of China) Li Yan emphasized that this is the first time Vietnam has organized a fruit promotion event in Beijing. He hopes that Vietnamese businesses will take advantage of this opportunity and actively explore the Chinese market. He also hopes that Beijing residents will seize this rare opportunity to enjoy delicious Vietnamese fruits and introduce the unique flavor of this fruit to their friends and relatives.

Also at the event, Mr. Truong Ngoc Ty, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tan Phat Dia Agricultural Products Distribution Center shared that Beijing has a huge demand for high-quality agricultural products. Tan Phat Dia Center is the main supplier of vegetables and fruits for the capital's residents, supplying up to 90% of agricultural products in Beijing. Beijing's self-sufficiency rate in agricultural products is very low, most of the agricultural products come from other provinces and cities and are imported from abroad.

Every year, agricultural products from 46 countries and regions are displayed at Xinfadi. It can be said that “Just entering Xinfadi can enjoy cuisine from all over the world”.

In order to improve the quality control of agricultural products and actively promote cooperation in building and sharing the “Belt and Road Initiative”, Xinfadi has stepped up the expansion of its cultivation bases in Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries, with a total area of ​​325,000 acres. Among them, dragon fruit, banana, mango, watermelon, purple sweet potato are mainly grown in Vietnam, with an area of ​​more than 20,000 acres. In the future, Xinfadi will further strengthen cooperation in durian, jackfruit, longan, passion fruit, mangosteen and other varieties.

Commenting on the first Vietnam Fruit Festival, the leader of Tan Phat Dia said: “ The Vietnam Fruit Festival is a wonderful exhibition fair in Beijing, of great significance and of the times, demonstrating the tireless efforts of the Vietnamese people in meeting the needs of the Chinese market. In addition, it also more vividly reflects the friendly cooperative relationship between China and Vietnam in the agricultural sector, thereby helping to create valuable opportunities for connection and exchange between Chinese and Vietnamese agricultural enterprises; at the same time, it will certainly promote the further development of Vietnam's agricultural exports .”

“ We are looking forward to seeing more high-quality Vietnamese fruits and vegetables on the Chinese market, adding rich color to the meals of Beijing residents ,” emphasized the leader of Tan Phat Dia.

Vietnam Fruit Festival will last for 2 days, September 29 and 30, 2024.

Below are some pictures at the Festival:

On the morning of September 29, many Chinese consumers in the capital Beijing and neighboring localities such as Hubei, Tianjin, etc. came to visit and experience.

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao-bo/bo-truong-nguyen-hong-dien-du-va-khai-mac-le-hoi-trai-cay-viet-nam-tai-bac-kinh-trung-quoc.html