A story I'm only telling now.

One of the highlights of trade promotion activities in 2024 was the story of Vietnam's first-ever Fruit Festival in China.

During the busy final days of the year, we had the opportunity to chat with the Director of the Trade Promotion Department, Vu Ba Phu, who shared with us one of the highlights of Vietnam's trade promotion activities in 2024 – the story of Vietnam's first-ever Fruit Festival in Beijing, China.

Unforgettable memories

Sir, could you share some memorable moments about the first time the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, successfully organized a large-scale Vietnamese fruit festival abroad?

Director of the Trade Promotion Department, Vu Ba Phu

China is a vast market that Vietnamese fruits are targeting. For many years, China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner. The total bilateral trade between Vietnam and China accounts for one-quarter of Vietnam's total import and export turnover with the world .

Conversely, Vietnam is one of China's largest trading partners with the world and its largest partner within ASEAN.

Trade between Vietnam and China continues to experience high growth; however, in recent times, Vietnamese fruit exports have largely been conducted through border trade and informal channels, primarily in provinces bordering China. To develop sustainable exports to the Chinese market, Vietnamese fruit exports need to shift strongly towards formal channels, combined with promotion of image and brand. Faced with this reality, the Government , the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and other relevant agencies are deeply concerned about how to successfully bring Vietnamese agricultural products to this massive market.

And notably, on the occasion of the 13th Session of the Vietnam-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Committee, the Ministry of Industry and Trade decided to coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association to organize the Vietnam Fruit Festival 2024.

Despite numerous difficulties, tight deadlines, and the fact that it was the first time organizing a large-scale fruit event abroad, thanks to many efforts, especially the decisive leadership from the two Ministers, the Vietnam Fruit Festival Exhibition 2024 in Beijing officially opened on September 29, 2024.

Promoting the brand and image of typical fruit products.

The Vietnam Fruit Festival 2024 exhibition showcased meticulous planning and scale, conveying the meaningful message "Vietnam's Fruits - Four Delicacies." Could you share more about this message?

Vietnamese fruits have long been renowned worldwide for their delicious and distinctive flavors, thanks to the diverse and abundant climate and soil conditions. Even in the Chinese market, many of Vietnam's specialty tropical fruits are popular with consumers but have yet to be branded as Vietnamese products.

After much deliberation, we have chosen the message to promote Vietnamese fruits in the capital of a nation with over 1.4 billion people this time: "Vietnamese Fruits – Delicious in All Seasons" (Vietnamese transliteration: Vietnam Fruits – Four Seasons of Delicious Flavors), with the intention of highlighting the superior quality of Vietnamese fruits, which are delicious and have a distinctive taste and flavor compared to fruits not grown in the unique climate and soil conditions of Vietnam.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Director of the Trade Promotion Department Vu Ba Phu, along with representatives from China, visit a booth at the Fruit Festival in Beijing, China. Photo: Nguyen Minh

With the theme "Vietnamese Fruits – Delicious in All Seasons," the festival is one of the important trade promotion events with the Chinese market for fresh fruits and vegetables and processed products made from fruits and vegetables that have been officially allowed to be imported into China. This is also the first time a large-scale fruit festival has been held abroad, with the active participation of major Vietnamese agricultural processing and export businesses, as well as specialized agricultural associations, importers, and suppliers in China.

The festival brings together 21 Vietnamese businesses participating in the exhibition, introduction, and product experience in an area of ​​over 300m2, featuring 13 themed display islands showcasing Vietnamese fruits, combined with a business networking area. The festival is held at the Tan Fadi Agricultural Products Distribution Center, Fengtai District, Beijing's largest wholesale fruit market – the capital, the political, economic, and cultural center of the country, a high-value market with large demand.

Accordingly, organizing the Fruit Festival in Beijing has helped promote the brands and images of delicious and nutritious Vietnamese tropical fruits, attracting the attention of numerous businesses, consumers, and media outlets. At the same time, it provides a good opportunity for Vietnamese producers and suppliers to introduce and promote their typical fruit products, as well as to meet and find customers, strengthen trade activities, and build sustainable cooperative relationships with potential partners for fruit imports in China.

Affirming the value of Vietnamese agricultural products.

Many people highly appreciate the significance of this Vietnamese festival. What are your thoughts on this, and in your opinion, what is the most successful legacy left by the festival?

In fact, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce also appreciated Vietnam's organization of this festival, emphasizing that the event is of significant importance, demonstrating the continuous efforts to improve the quality of export products of Vietnamese farmers and businesses in meeting the increasingly high quality demands of the Chinese market.

China spends approximately $20 billion annually on fruit imports. Meanwhile, to date, officially imported Vietnamese fruits only account for about 10% of the Chinese market share, primarily in southern and southeastern China and provinces bordering Vietnam. Therefore, this presents a significant opportunity to promote more sustainable agricultural trade between the two countries.

Vietnamese products are highly valued and favored by Chinese consumers. Photo: CT

In my opinion, one of the most important achievements of the Festival is that it has contributed to more vividly reflecting the friendly cooperative relationship between China and Vietnam in the field of agriculture. The Festival is also one of the factors that clearly motivates Vietnamese farmers and businesses to improve their business methods, improve products, and supply the market with fruits that have beautiful designs and outstanding quality, contributing to raising and affirming Vietnam's position on the world fruit supply map in general and the Chinese market in particular.

In addition to a series of cooperation agreements signed between businesses from both sides, China has also facilitated Vietnam's establishment of a booth at the Xinfa Didi Agricultural Products Distribution Center. Based on the meeting between the Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade and Mr. Truong Ngoc Ty – General Director of the Xinfa Didi Agricultural Products Distribution Center – on the sidelines of the festival, the Trade Promotion Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been assigned to coordinate with localities, associations, and businesses in the Vietnamese agricultural and food sectors to organize participation in the permanent exhibition area for high-quality Vietnamese agricultural and food products exported to China at the Xinfa Didi Agricultural Products Distribution Center. This will serve as a bridge for Vietnamese agricultural products to access the Chinese market more deeply, "boosting" the value of Vietnamese agricultural products to conquer not only the region but also the international stage in the future.

Thank you very much, sir!

Source: https://congthuong.vn/le-hoi-trai-cay-viet-nam-tai-trung-quoc-chuyen-bay-gio-moi-ke-370694.html