at the
China-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision Inspection and Quarantine
Nanning, China, 28-29 October 2007

H.E. Zeng Peiyan, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China,
H.E. Li Changjiang, Minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People’s Republic of China,
H.E. Ministers of ASEAN Member Countries,
H.E. Wei Chuanzhong, Vice Minister of AQSIQ of the People’s Republic of China,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure for me to be here at the First ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, hosted by AQSIQ of People’s Republic of China in conjunction with the 4th China – ASEAN Expo in this beautiful city of Nanning and to be among all the distinguished delegates from ASEAN and China.  On behalf of the ASEAN Member Countries, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for organising and inviting us to this important Meeting.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, food safety has become a key concern among global consumers and in trade. For ASEAN, food safety is an important issue under both agriculture and health sectors in ASEAN’s economic integration process. Over the years, ASEAN has made a concerted effort to enhance food control systems and procedures to ensure the freer movement of safe, healthy and quality foods within the region. As it is also essential for food and agricultural products from ASEAN to meet internationally recognised standards to increase trade competitiveness in international markets, ASEAN has been focusing on the harmonisation of quality and standards, assurance of food safety, as well as the standardisation of trade certification for food and agricultural products.

During the 8th ASEAN China Summit in November 2004 in Vientiane, the Leaders of ASEAN and China agreed to strengthen the cooperation in the field of inspection and quarantine to support the establishment of ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (FTA). This became a milestone on the development of an MOU between the People’s Republic of China and ASEAN on Strengthening Sanitary and Phytosanitary Cooperation which will be signed at the forthcoming ASEAN-China Summit in Singapore. Through the MOU, we will address the issues on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and promote exchange of information in safeguarding human, animal and plant health to facilitate and promote food safety under ASEAN-China free trade arrangement.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Over the next two days, distinguished delegates from ASEAN Member Countries and China will discuss on how to strengthen import and export food safety management and cooperation to protect consumer’s right and benefits.

The Meeting will also provide an excellent opportunity for ASEAN and China to officially establish ASEAN-China ministerial consultation and cooperation mechanism, to discuss ASEAN-China import and export food safety cooperation mechanism, to enhance cooperation on food safety administrations as well as to promote joint efforts on ensuring food and agricultural product quality and safety. In the spirit of promoting ASEAN-China cooperation, I do believe that the Meeting would have fruitful deliberation, successful outcomes and recommendation. And we also hope the Meeting will further foster the development of strategic partnership between China and ASEAN on food safety.

Finally, on behalf of the ASEAN Member Countries, I would like to once again express my sincere gratitude to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) of the People’s Republic of China for making this event possible. I wish the Meeting success and to all of you an enjoyable stay in Nanning.

Thank you.