Minister Do Duc Duy and GACC Commissioner Sun Meijun engaged in direct talks aimed at resolving long-standing trade bottlenecks and deepening cooperation.
Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy’s first official visit to China has marked a pivotal milestone in agricultural trade relations between the two nations: the first-ever in-person ministerial dialogue with China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC), replacing previous virtual meetings held in prior years.
Minister Do Duc Duy and General Director Ton Mai Quan agreed to establish a rotating, annual ministerial-level meeting mechanism. Photo: ICC.“This is also my first overseas mission in my role as Minister of Agriculture and Environment and Head of the delegation. I believe that since both Commissioner Sun Meijun and I have only recently taken office earlier this year, we will have ample time and motivation to foster an increasingly close, effective, and substantive relationship between our two agencies - contributing to the consolidation and enhancement of the strong partnership between Vietnam and China, particularly in the field of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic trade,” stated Minister Do Duc Duy.
According to the Minister, the dialogue also serves to concretize the Joint Statement made between Vietnam and China during the visit to Vietnam by Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping in April this year.
The historic meeting took place on May 28 during a working visit by the Vietnamese delegation from May 27 to 29. Minister Do Duc Duy and GACC Commissioner Sun Meijun engaged in direct talks aimed at resolving long-standing trade bottlenecks and deepening cooperation. Both officials, newly appointed earlier this year, expressed shared determination to usher in a new chapter of bilateral ties, especially in the trade of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products.
Mr. Duy proposed establishing an annual rotating ministerial meeting between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and GACC, a suggestion that Commissioner Sun warmly welcomed, calling it a practical move to strengthen the shared future between the two countries.
The dialogue brought about immediate outcomes. Both parties agreed to boost customs clearance capabilities and food safety inspections at border checkpoints. Minister Duy noted Vietnam’s readiness to coordinate with China in extending working hours at border gates to alleviate congestion, especially during the upcoming peak fruit harvest season. In response, Commissioner Sun confirmed that China had instructed customs units to increase staffing and extend inspection times to ensure swift entry of Vietnamese farm produce into the Chinese market.
So far, Vietnam and China have signed 28 protocols and memoranda on the export and import of agricultural and aquatic products. Vietnam currently exports 15 fruits to China, including durian, mangosteen, watermelon, dragon fruit, and mango, along with bird’s nest, monkey meat, crocodile, milk, and various seafood products. Minister Duy particularly acknowledged GACC’s recent decision to approve 829 new growing area codes and 131 additional durian packing facility codes, calling it a testament to effective bilateral cooperation and a great source of motivation for Vietnamese farmers and exporters.
Addressing recent Chinese concerns over food safety indicators, specifically cadmium content and traces of the banned dye Auramine O, Minister Duy affirmed Vietnam’s swift response. After receiving notifications, Vietnamese authorities conducted investigations, implemented control measures across the entire supply chain from cultivation to export, and sent GACC a comprehensive report demonstrating Vietnam’s capacity to manage and rectify food safety risks. He stressed that Vietnam is committed to strengthening quality control for durian and is prepared to work closely with Chinese counterparts on any emerging issues related to food safety.
One of the most significant agreements reached during the dialogue was the decision to establish a “Green Lane” mechanism, prioritising rapid customs clearance for fresh fruit shipments during peak harvest seasons. This agreement is crucial, especially for key exports like durian and lychee. Vietnam also confirmed it had resolved regulatory issues affecting Chinese sturgeon and pet food imports.
Minister Do Duc Duy at the meeting. Photo: ICD.The two sides further agreed to create an early warning system for non-compliant shipments, establish permanent technical contact points at border crossings, and form a joint working group focused on food safety and quality inspections. Commissioner Sun also signaled openness to institutionalizing the ministerial dialogue mechanism and committed to further strengthening technical coordination.
Looking ahead, both countries are actively exploring opportunities to open the Chinese market to new Vietnamese products. GACC announced it would soon dispatch inspection teams to assess Vietnamese pomelo and lemon farms as part of the drafting process for new export protocols. China also pledged to review draft protocols for Vietnamese seafood exports, including live and wild-caught aquatic products, with the goal of finalizing and signing updated agreements to replace outdated ones.
As part of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation toured major agricultural distribution centers in China, including Xinfa Market, one of the country’s largest hubs for imported produce - and the China Supply and Marketing Group, a state-run conglomerate with assets totaling nearly 200 billion yuan. The group operates across multiple agricultural supply chains, from fertilizer and pesticide distribution to grain reserves, cotton trade, and wholesale market systems. These visits are expected to pave the way for future cooperation, providing Vietnamese businesses and provinces with strategic insights into expanding market access and investment in China.
Photo3: Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy led a working delegation to work with the General Administration of Customs of China. Photo: ICD.To further support the durian trade, Minister Duy presented three specific proposals: revising current food safety control measures to ease procedural burdens on Vietnamese exports; ensuring expedited customs clearance during peak harvest months; and expanding the list of Vietnamese laboratories accredited to test for cadmium and Auramine O levels, thereby streamlining the pre-export quality inspection process.
This landmark dialogue represents a major turning point in Vietnam - China agricultural relations. By building a stable, practical, and forward-looking cooperation framework, both countries are setting a new standard for regional agri-trade diplomacy, turning shared commitments into tangible benefits for producers, exporters, and consumers on both sides of the border.