Minister Nguyen Hong Dien attended the First Vietnamese Fruit Festival in China. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

On the morning of September 29, the first Vietnam Fruit Festival took place in Beijing, China. The event was co-organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and 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.

There is still a lot of room

Speaking at the Vietnam Fruit Festival in China, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized that 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.

According to the Minister, Vietnam is located in a tropical, monsoon climate zone - this place is considered a paradise for tropical plants; in particular, there are many rich fruit gardens, stretching across the country, with the diversity and sophistication of many types of fruits (from the sweet, 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. In addition to fresh fruit products, Vietnam also exports many processed fruit products, such as: dried fruit, fruit jam, crushed fruit and vegetables, fruit juice, 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 decline of the world economy.

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 are 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.

However, 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 South, Southeast of China and provinces adjacent to Vietnam.

Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the First Vietnam Fruit Festival in Beijing, China. (Photo: PV/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,” which is convenient for transportation. Therefore, there is still a lot of room for fruit businesses of the two countries to exploit and develop.

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, aiming to contribute to implementing and realizing the commitments and political determination of the two countries' senior leaders after the visit to China by General Secretary and President To Lam last August.

Although it was only held for the first time, the festival 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 meet and seek customers, enhance trading activities, and build sustainable cooperative relationships with potential partners in fruit import in China.

Moreover, the festival is also a favorable opportunity for a large number of Chinese consumers to directly experience the quality and unique 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,” Minister Nguyen Hong Dien emphasized.

The Minister proposed that Chinese authorities continue to coordinate, facilitate quarantine, customs clearance of goods and resolve issues related to bilateral economic and trade policies between the two countries, facilitating cooperation and trade activities 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 Chinese friends and consumers.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien also affirmed that Vietnam is ready to create favorable conditions according to the law for many types of Chinese fruits to be imported into the Vietnamese market, as well as help Chinese enterprises 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,” said Minister Nguyen Hong Dien.

Adding rich color to Beijing people's meals

Sharing the same view, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Thanh Nam said that 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 Vietnamese fruits.

This event is of great significance, marking the successful cooperation in the field of agriculture and agricultural trade between the two countries. This is also a valuable opportunity for businesses from both sides to connect, trade, and promote cooperation in developing the fruit industry of the two countries.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of the Asian Department (Ministry of Commerce of China) Ly Ngan informed that Vietnam and China are mountains connected, rivers connected, good comrades, good partners, good neighbors, good friends. Under the strategic direction of the senior leaders of the two Parties and two States, the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and China has achieved many good results in many fields.

This is the first time Vietnam has organized a fruit promotion event in Beijing. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Economic and trade cooperation is the main driving force for Vietnam-China relations. Since 2004, China has been Vietnam's largest trading partner and since 2016, Vietnam has been China's largest trading partner in the ASEAN region.

From January to August 2024, bilateral trade between China and Vietnam reached nearly 170 billion USD, up nearly 20% over the same period last year. China is Vietnam's largest export market for fruits and vegetables. In 2023, Vietnam's agricultural exports to China accounted for 21% of Vietnam's total agricultural exports to the world.

With the joint efforts of both sides, high-quality Vietnamese fruits such as durian, dragon fruit, banana, mango, etc. have been present in the market of 1.4 billion people, while food products produced in Vietnam such as coffee, pho, etc. are also favored by many Chinese consumers.

Along with the comprehensive implementation of the RCEP Agreement as well as the continuous upgrading of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, cooperation between the two countries in technology, standards, and agricultural production is increasingly developing in a deeper and broader direction.

“This is the first time Vietnam has organized a fruit promotion event in Beijing. I hope Vietnamese businesses will take advantage of this opportunity and actively explore the Chinese market,” said the Deputy Director of the Asian Department of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, adding that he hopes that Beijing residents will seize this rare opportunity to enjoy delicious Vietnamese fruits and introduce the unique flavors of these fruits to their friends and relatives.

Mr. Truong Ngoc Ty, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Tan Phat Dia Agricultural Products Distribution Center, said that the Vietnam Fruit Festival is a wonderful exhibition fair in Beijing, which is of great significance and of the times, demonstrating the tireless efforts of the Vietnamese people in meeting the needs of the Chinese market.

Besides, it also reflects more vividly 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, and will certainly promote the further development of Vietnam's agricultural exports.

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

Thuy Linh