Interview: Cooperation with China in agriculture very important: EU commissioner

BRUSSELS, Sept. 24– The agricultural sector in China “is developing very dynamically” and cooperation in this field is very important to the European Union, European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting global food supply chains worldwide, the commissioner…

BRUSSELS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) — The agricultural sector in China “is developing very dynamically” and cooperation in this field is very important to the European Union (EU), European Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting global food supply chains worldwide, the commissioner said that China’s huge potential in the agricultural products market means that cooperation with China is of utmost importance to the EU.

In recent years, China and the EU have conducted frequent exchanges in a range of areas, such as agricultural science, technology, and geographical indications (GIs).

“One year ago, the European Union and China reached an important milestone by signing the EU-China agreement on the protection of geographical indications. It is the first significant international trade agreement between the EU and China to come into effect. It is a symbol of openness and adherence to international rules as a basis for trade relations,” Wojciechowski said.

“This reflects the consensus that at all the levels of the European Union, GIs are win-win concept,” he added.

Products protected by GIs bring greater economic benefits to producers and consumers alike, as the protection ensures the authenticity of the products made according to precise specifications.

GIs also benefit the rural areas. In Europe, GIs have had a considerable impact on the local economy by creating spillover effects in local tourism and preserving the cultural heritage.

Wojciechowski recalled that the expansion of geographical indications is an ongoing process. For now, the agreement protects 100 GIs in the EU and another 100 in China. In the next few years, the sides have agreed to protect an additional 175 GIs each.

He said that “this is both a significant and a truly tangible achievement, which we are really proud of.”

The commissioner said that food security and biodiversity are key issues linked with agriculture and with how the EU and China can produce safe, nutritious and affordable food for their populations.

China and the EU face common challenges in establishing sustainable agriculture and food systems. Emphasizing the need to exchange ideas and solutions, he said that “We are making farmers more professional. We are both promoting technology, the use of big data and innovation in farming and food production.”

Local sellers, for example, have gained a better understanding of the role GIs play since the agreement came into effect.

Liu Jingrui, chairman of the Jinyuan Group, the largest Asian supermarket in Belgium, told Xinhua that the GI agreement will deepen European consumers’ awareness and understanding of China’s geographical indications and customs, and will allow more and more Chinese and European consumers to benefit from the greater availability of high-quality and safe products. Enditem