Minister McConalogue and Heydon conclude visit to China as part of major agri-food trade mission

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. and Minister of State with Responsibility for New Market Development Martin Heydon T.D. today (Wednesday) concluded their visit to China, the first part of their agri-food trade mission that will also include the Republic of Korea.

While in Beijing, Minister McConalogue held political meetings with his counterparts in the General Administration of Customs Controls (GACC), which is the administrative body responsible for market access of agri-food products to China, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The Minister, accompanied by Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, used his visit as a platform to build relationships between Irish food and drink export companies and key Chinese importers as well as to engage with potential Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) customers.

A key meeting with the Party Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Han Jun and Vice Minister Ma Youxiang, was held to discuss further areas for co-operation. This included efforts to build on the continued and successful knowledge transfer programme that facilitates exchanges of technical expertise and experience between Irish and Chinese Officials.

Minister McConalogue also held positive discussions with Minister Yu Jianhua and Vice Minister Wang Lingjun from the GACC in relation to advancing market access opportunities for bone-in beef, beef offal and germinal products.

Minister McConalogue commented:

“China presents significant opportunities for Irish products and this trade mission has allowed us to reconnect and strengthen our trade relationships. I was pleased to meet with my counterparts in both the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the General Administration of Customs Controls who are key interlocutors for agricultural collaboration, including in research and educational exchanges and trade. Following this exchange of views on potential areas for further collaboration, I am confident that we will build further on the robust bilateral relations already in place between our two countries. It was also a useful opportunity to discuss the current issues in relation to EU exports of pigmeat and dairy to China, and to provide assurances to the Chinese Authorities regarding the compliance of this trade with WTO rules.

Minister McConalogue added:

“Following my meetings with the Ministries I was delighted to meet with key partners in the China Academy of Agricultural Science and mark with them the ten-year anniversary of the China Ireland Sustainable Development Centre. This is testament to the great collaboration that has developed in this area."

Moving to Shanghai both Minister McConalogue and Minister of State Heydon had the opportunity to speak at the Ireland-China Dairy Seminar - partnering for a Sustainable future.

Minister Heydon said

“During the China leg of this trade mission I met with several companies in relation to Irish dairy and beef exports. As our fifth largest destination, China is an important market for Irish dairy exports amounting to €426m in 2023. These meetings were an opportunity to meet with key Chinese commercial players alongside Irish suppliers to raise awareness of the quality and sustainability of Irish dairy as we seek to diversify our exports. I also had the opportunity to meet several Chinese companies in relation to Irish beef which we have regained market access for and continue to seek greater access for as well. Despite a challenging market environment at present, China remains an important market for the diversification of Irish beef exports.”

Minister Heydon also spoke at the launch event of Bord Bia’s Spirit of Ireland drinks campaign, which has been developed to give an insight into the history and heritage of Irish spirits and to build increased awareness of Ireland’s drinks category.

The trade mission now moves to Seoul, Republic of Korea where both Minsters will be engaging with government, key stakeholders and important commercial partners in the Korean food industry. The Ministers will address the Sustainable European Beef from Ireland Trade seminar and officially launch Irish Beef into the Korean market.

ENDS

• Image #1 Chef Li Zhanxu with Minister McConalogue at the Chef Masters event in Beijing

• Image #2 Minister Heydon speaking at the Ireland-China Dairy Seminar in Shanghai

• Image #3 Minister McConalogue with Minister Yu Jianhua, from the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC)