Economy

2nd ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting deepens quarantine co-op

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-26 11:08

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia?- The 2nd ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting opened in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia on Monday to strengthen cooperation on preventing the cross-border spread of exotic pests to protect agricultural production, ecological environment security as well as human health.

Delegates pose for group photos during the 2nd ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on quality supervision, inspection and quarantine, in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, Oct 25, 2010.?[Photo / Xinhua]

The theme of the meeting is "Strengthening Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation, Preventing the Cross-Border Spread of Exotic Pests."

Minister Zhi Shuping of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China and Chan Sarun, minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries of Cambodia, co-chaired the meeting.

Chan Sarun said that the cooperation between the ASEAN community and China "is playing as catalyst in promoting regional economic development and globalization". And the meeting which was held at the first year of implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Agreement will "result in greater opportunities for agricultural trade within the region," he said.

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Zhi Shuping pointed out that ASEAN-China cooperation in quality supervision, inspection and quarantine has become a system and a mechanism, which yielded important results. "Our systematic and mutually beneficial cooperation in quality supervision, inspection and quarantine brings tangible benefits to 1.8 billion people in this region," he said, adding that the cooperation also helps to promote ASEAN-China strategic partnership, and play an active role in promoting bilateral economy and trade as well as the Free Trade Area (FTA).

A joint press statement released at the end of the meeting said the ministers agreed to the establishment of three ASEAN-China technical working groups on food safety, animal inspection and quarantine, and plant inspection and quarantine.

The meeting also approved the Phnom Penh Joint Statement on “Strengthening Animal and Plant Inspection and Quarantine Cooperation, Preventing the Cross-Border Spread of Exotic Pests."

The 3rd ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine will be held in China in 2012.