Minister: Iran targets doubling agricultural trade with China to $2b ‘shortly’
The Iranian minister of agriculture expressed optimism over the potential to double agricultural trade with China to $2 billion "in a short period," highlighting existing capacities within bilateral relations.
Gholamreza Nouri-Qezeljeh is in China to attend the 10th Meeting of Agriculture Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Mehr reported.
Upon arrival in Kunming city in southwestern China, Nouri-Qezeljeh stated the meeting of agriculture ministers of SCO member states is dedicated to discussing “cooperation among the organization's members, increasing the level of interactions, and presenting solutions to deepen relations between the members of this organization."
He identified the SCO member states as among Iran's most important partners in the agricultural sector, adding that China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian countries are significant trading partners. He further stated, "On this trip, we will pursue ways to enhance the level of relations in economic, agricultural, and other fields with these countries, both bilaterally and within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization."
Regarding Iran-China cooperation in agriculture, the minister of agriculture stated, "Currently, most interactions between the two countries are in the agricultural sector, with the trade volume standing at one billion dollars, and the share of the two countries in terms of exports and imports is almost equal."
According to the minister, considering the existing capacities in Iran-China relations, "we can increase this amount to two billion dollars in a short period."
Nouri-Qezeljeh identified various agricultural fields, especially fisheries, as suitable areas for cooperation between the two countries. He expressed hope that the consultations conducted during this trip would provide and expedite the grounds for increased cooperation. Emphasizing the importance of strategic Iran-China relations from the perspective of the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, he added, "We are seriously pursuing the deepening and development of relations with China."
Final statement
The 10th Meeting of Agriculture Ministers of SCO member states, held on Wednesday, issued the final joint statement, emphasizing the pivotal role of the member states' policies in developing the agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors.
The Iranian minister, heading a delegation to this meeting, will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO member states in addition to delivering a speech at this session.
Ways to develop agricultural cooperation reviewed
In a meeting between Nouri-Qezeljeh and his Chinese counterpart Han Jun, ways to develop agricultural cooperation between Iran and China were reviewed.
Nouri-Qezeljeh announced the commitment of President Masoud Pezeshkian and his government to developing bilateral cooperation with China, including in the agricultural sector. The minister, while enumerating the priority areas for bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector, called for expediting the issuance of the remaining sanitary permits to facilitate the export of some of Iran’s agricultural products to China.
In this meeting, Han Jun evaluated the positions announced and solutions presented by the Iranian minister, especially concerning the requirements for removing obstacles to the development of trade exchanges, as beneficial and significant. He added, "China has the necessary readiness to increase imports of various agricultural products from the Islamic Republic of Iran." The agriculture ministers of the two countries subsequently held consultations on various aspects of bilateral cooperation in different fields of the agricultural sector.
Given the numerous agenda items for bilateral cooperation in this field, it was decided that detailed consultations would continue in the form of a meeting at the level of deputy ministers of the two countries. It was also decided that the third Joint Committee for Iran-China Agricultural Cooperation will be held in the near future in Tehran.