Minster of Trade and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyhr, last night hosted a reception for Danish food in Beijing to mark the strong cooperation, between the two countries, and to promote Danish products. Earlier today she also met with Chen Deming, Minister of Commerce of PRC, to talk about further cooperation between the two countries.
China has increased its import from the Danish agriculture and food sector from 5.6 billion to 10 billion RMB from 2009 to 2010 due to China’s economic prosperityand demands for high food quality.
“In China agricultural products from Denmark possess the reputation of being products of high quality and safety. At the same time, the Danish agriculture and food sector represents an innovative, holistic approach throughout the entire value chain and can contribute with many of the solutions that the Chinese market demands,” said the Danish Minister.
Despite China's status as the world's largest food producer and the country's ambition of high levels of self-sufficiency, domestic production is facing great challenges to meet the growing demands.
In this perspective, the Danish agriculture and food industry has a large export potential across the Chinese food producing value chain. Moreover, the changed demand patterns poses a large potential for increased Danish exports of high quality food, including high-value products such as processed and organic foods.
The Danish agriculture and food sector has a global reputation for high quality and food safety. The agriculture and food industry plays a key role in Danish exports. In 2011 the industry's exports reached132 billion RMB, corresponding to 19.5% of the total export from Denmark.
The Danish Minister pointed that:
“The foundation for continued growth must be found in a persistently close and broad cooperation between authorities and companies. I am therefore looking forward to promoting innovative Danish foods and technologies in China.”