Vietnamese and Chinese agricultural bodies have co-organised a forum highlighting the cooperation between enterprises from the two countries in tea and coffee production and distribution.

China, the biggest market for Vietnamese farm produce, is ranked 12th and 4th among foreign importers of Vietnamese tea and coffee, respectively.

Speaking at the forum held on October 14, Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said the two countries are both big farm produce exporters, and their products supplement each other.

Their firms have a great opportunity to join hands in the production, processing, and trade of tea and coffee products to serve both domestic and global demands, he added.

Cuong said the forum would help businesses study available opportunities and form partnerships to capitalise on the strength of products for value chain development.

Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Changfu said Vietnamese tea and coffee have an important position in China’s market, with many products favoured by local consumers.

He said he hopes that more market space will open for Vietnam’s tea and coffee to grow further in China.

Nguyen Quoc Toan, director of the agricultural products processing and development department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, suggested Vietnamese and Chinese firms boost connectivity in production and supply of materials for processing and market development.

The two sides should work together in research, technology transfer and production in order to create tea and coffee varieties of high quality and productivity to serve consumer demand, Toan said.