by Meng Lingjuan and Chen Jiaqi

No restrictions have been set on Pakistani cherries entering China, as long as they meet the standards, said a deputy to the National People's Congress during China’s two sessions.

“A lot of countries are willing to export cherries to China. I have visited Turkey and other places of origin before. First, we should have strict inspection and quarantine standards; secondly, whether the price is competitive; thirdly, whether the cherry production seasons are close,” when he was asked how Pakistani cherries could enter China, this deputy to the NPC once in high place in the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), gave us a clear answer.

The second and third ones mentioned above have also been talked in the article China-Pakistan Trade Hotline: Pakistani cherries rival Chilean counterparts, yet hard to enter Chinese market. As to the first point, Zhao Jinping, former Director-General of the Research Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Development Research Center of the State Council, was the first guest to mention it in the special program Cherry and FTA.

Aman Ullah Khan, Managing Director of Global Care, tastes cherries from China and Chile at the studio of Economic Daily-China Economic Net for the special program Cherries and FTA. (Photo by Zhang Peng/ Economic Daily-China Economic Net)

Closer ties of food safety and customs

Zhao Jinping believes that quality is not the only factor whether cherries can enter China or not. Besides, well performance in food safety, such as inspection and quarantine, and health standard system construction contribute to the imports of large quantities of Chilean cherries. To be responsible for national health, every country should make sure the food enters its own country that reaches the safety standards. Therefore, strengthening food safety cooperation with Pakistan is a significant part to maintain long-term, sustained and rapid growth of bilateral trade.

“I personally visited Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau when lots of imported fruits and vegetables were arriving there. For me, the cherries look very good and delicious, but the technical experts can tell at a glance there are indeed tiny worm eggs in some part of the cherries.”

Zhao Jinping said, China Customs is stepping up efforts to facilitate customs clearance. The time for customs clearance is greatly reduced. The sampling rate, an important indicator, is now very low, only 1% or even a smaller portion of all imported items will be inspected, in this case, it is important to have a management system that ensures product safety in the entire process and meets health requirements. China Customs, including the inspection and quarantine department, has established a long-term cooperation relationship with their counterparts from other countries, carrying out joint efforts in quality control. “Pakistan Customs should further modernize, and promote cooperation with China Customs,” said Zhou Rong, Senior Researcher at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China.

Cherry production in line with Chinese quarantine standards

The GACC and the SENASA reached an agreement on cherry quarantine on December 2, 2018. A month later, we found the phytosanitary requirements for the import of Argentine cherries on the website of the GACC, totaling over 6800 words, which contain detailed regulations on orchards, packaging, refrigeration, pest monitoring and other factors in the cherry production process. Are these difficult for Pakistan?

“I do not think it is difficult, because our agricultural products, fruit and vegetable products, can be exported to the United States, the United Kingdom, Africa and other countries. They should go through inspection and quarantine as well. Pakistani mangoes are very popular all over the world, especially in European countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. The problem of the presence of fruit flies has been solved. If we can get support from China and secure some orders, then we will definitely meet this requirement, this is not a big problem,” said Aman Ullah Khan, Managing Director of Global Care.

"What we concern most now is whether there is a clear Chinese standard that we can follow to produce cherries, which would improve the living standards of thousands of farmers in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan.,” Akram Habib, Chief Editor of Dunya TV, added.

Joint effort in China-Pakistan cherry orchard

Akram Habib, Chief Editor of Dunya TV, is at the studio of Economic Daily-China Economic Net for the special program Cherries and FTA on March 6, 2019. (Photo by Zhang Peng/ Economic Daily-China Economic Net)

The idea of Sino-Pakistani joint venture cherry orchard was first introduced by Akram Hibib. He believes that logistics and promotion of cherries is the direction for mutual cooperation. Zhou Rong thinks that China should set up a joint venture cherry farm in Pakistan, and the two countries can produce together to help Pakistan develop the cherry industry.

"If a new round of FTA is to be achieved, it is more pragmatic to help Pakistan increase its exports to China. If China can import Pakistani cherries, it will help solve our trade imbalance problems. Pakistan has an extremely large market and cheap labor, joint venture cherry orchard facilitates Pakistani cherry’s access to the Chinese market, I think it is an idea that should be taken seriously,” said Naveed Hussain, Editor of The Express Tribune, Head of News of Tribune 24/7.

More room in food export from Pakistan

Talking about the trade imbalance between China and Pakistan, Zhao Jinping believes that it does exist. "We should have imported some goods from Pakistan, but not enough has been done on import now. Pakistan also faces some financial and debt difficulties. We must try to help them alleviate the pressure or slow the pace of creating problems."

Zhao Jinping said the first two items with the highest proportion of Pakistan's exports are textiles and food. Food accounts for nearly 20% and most of them are Pakistan's specialty foods. "China has expanded food import from Pakistan. I personally think it is worthwhile and there are opportunities. I suggest doing more in this regard.

Aman Ullah Khan agreed with Zhao Jinping’s idea. He said, “Whether it is fruit and vegetable or meat and dairy products, we have no problem in food export. Pakistan has established professional slaughterhouses that can produce two hundred tons of beef and mutton per day. As far as I know, China imports from Australia and New Zealand and it is very expensive, but exporting beef and mutton is not a problem for Pakistan. ”

“CPEC-made Product” in high hope

Zhou Rong, Senior Researcher at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China, receives an interview at the studio of Economic Daily-China Economic Net for the special program Cherries and FTA on March 6, 2019. (Photo by Zhang Peng/ Economic Daily-China Economic Net)

According to reports from Chinese media, China shows interest in importing cherries, potatoes, wheat, citrus, rice and mango from Pakistan; the two sides have also enhanced coordination in hybrid rice seed inspection and halal meat products are expected to export to China. According to industry insiders, some think that the import of halal meat products is easier to operate than the cherry quarantine.

According to the Catalogue of Fresh Fruit Varieties and Exporting Countries/Regions that Have Obtained Inspection and Quarantine Access to China, as of the end of October 2018, there are three kinds of Pakistani fruits, namely mango, citrus and orange. According to the data released by Ni Yuefeng, Minister and Secretary of CPC Committee of the General Administration of Customs of China, at the National Customs Work Conference at the beginning of the year, the GACC has completed the inspection and quarantine access of 83 kinds of quality food and agricultural products from 43 countries including India, Panama and Argentina, and quarantine access consultation of 22 agricultural products last year.

“I hope that there will be 'CPEC-made Product’,” said Zhou Rong as a concluding remark and a message to the Pakistan Day.

The article is translated by Fu Bo and Chen Jinglin.