Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening.
On behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, I¡¯d like to extend my warm welcome to all of you here. I would also take this opportunity to brief you on the 3rd China AG Trade Fair coming in this October.
As a big agricultural country, China has a vast territory with rich agricultural resources. With the development of China¡¯s socialist market economy and the nationwide regional planning for producing competitive agricultural products, some great changes has taken place on the agricultural structure, and the quality of product has been much improved. Since China¡¯s accession to WTO, it opens its agricultural market wider to the world. Thanks to the better trading environment, China¡¯s farm trade has increased at a high speed of 30% averagely during the past three years. In the total farm trade, the exports has increased by a yearly average of 14% and imports by 35%. Now China has become the world¡¯s fourth largest importer and fifth exporter of agricultural products.
The main purpose of this yearly international AG trade fair is to exhibit what we have achieved in developing agriculture and to promote the farm trade. We hope, with the ongoing efforts£¬the fair will serve as an excellent international trading platform in terms of its size, number of exhibitors, range of produce and accountability of information.
The past two China AG Trade Fair has been a full success. The first one attracted about 1000 domestic enterprises and also some foreign ones from nine countries or regions. It also had 1692 contracts being signed at a total contracted value of 17 billion yuan. The second trade fair absorbed over 1500 domestic enterprises and over 30 companies from 14 countries or regions, as well as over 10000 domestic purchasers and over 400 foreign purchasers. The second fair exhibited more than 3200 varieties of goods for over 200,000 visitors from home and abroad. The traded value and contracted value exceeded 20 billion and 25 billion yuan respectively. In one word, the 2nd China AG Trade Fair has been more advanced when compared with the first one.
The 3rd AG Trade Fair will also be practical and opening in promoting communication and trade, and in exhibiting the progress we¡¯ve made, including many quality goods. The fair is opening to all interested parties at home and abroad so as to absorb the best branded exhibits. A strict standard will be implemented when examining the applicants for exhibition. The qualified exhibitors shall be those national leading companies (dragon-head companies), producers of certified non-pollutant agri-food, green food or organic food, large and medium-sized farm exporters, qualified producers of farm machines, agricultural inputs or fish products, or those foreign companies or joint ventures. The exhibitors will be arranged in different exhibition halls according to what kind of products they want to show on the fair.
On this fair the total area for exhibition will be expanded. At the same time, there will be more space for the foreign exhibitors, with 1500 square metres being planned for them. The scope of exhibits will also be extended. For instance, an individual section will be set up for those qualified producers of agricultural inputs. We hope that it will help to improve and regulate the domestic market of agricultural inputs. Additionally, a special tour will be arranged exclusively for the purchasers on the day before the opening ceremony of the fair.
During the period of the fair, there will also be some workshops discussing farm trade from the aspects of policies, technologies and information. These workshops are to encourage more and more Chinese companies to go abroad and help foreign companies have a better understanding of China¡¯s market, and therefore to provide more opportunities for their cooperation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China, with its rich agricultural resources and huge market potential, makes great contribution to the world farm trade. It is hoped that you will continue your support towards this yearly event. I¡¯m sure, on the coming trade fair, you will find many good farm produce, and also sound business opportunities.
Finally I¡¯d like to propose a toast for our cooperation, our friendship, and your good health.
Cheers!
