Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs will arrange talks with their Chinese counterparts to promote Vietnamese fruits' entrance into the country, via negotiation, plant quarantine agreements and removing technical barriers.
Vietnam's litchi has so far exported to the United States.
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Therefore, it is necessary to focus on these markets, by connecting producers with chain distributors and wholesale markets, while keeping current importers satisfied, such as China, the United States, Japan and Australia.
He said that Vietnamese agricultural products are still accepted in China with little obstacles regarding regulations on origin and plant quarantine.
Hoang Trung, Director General of the MARD's Plant Protection Department (PPD), said this year, his unit will conduct its first on-site tests for litchi and longan crops during the harvest season in the provinces.
The PPD will arrange mobile quarantine rooms in concentrated areas to issue certificates on the spot for exporting enterprises, instead of doing so at the border. This will help reduce congestion and shorten clearance time at the border, said Trung.
The PPD has also been negotiating for higher fruit exports quota to Japan and South Korea, as many Japanese and Korean companies are keen on importing these fruits.
At present, the Chinese province of Guangxi has requested proof of traceability for Vietnam's agricultural products, which means the province must negotiate with Chinese partners to resolve any remaining difficulties.
Experts also suggested that Son La Province soon complete constructing two fruit and vegetable processing plants, in order to help reduce pressure on fresh fruits preservation.
In 2018, litchi storage technology from Israel will be transferred to the Ministry of Science and Technology, which the MARD will then apply at eight fruit and vegetable processing plants at the soonest.
On the same note, Tran Cong Truong, Vice Chairman Lang Son Provincial People's Committee, said China had asked his province to impose tighter controls on agricultural goods entering China via Lang Son border gate.
Starting May 1 this year, farmers will be required to provide proper packaging and product labels in order to export to China.
To meet the requirements of traditional export markets and to expand to new markets for fruit and nuts, Vietnam needs to improve its activities in terms of quality, design and food safety.
Dinh Cao Khue, General Director of the Dong Giao Foodstuff Export Joint Stock Company, said that his company has about 5,000 tons of processed litchi ready for export, with prospects for fresh exports as well.
Khue was confident that Vietnamese products are strong enough to compete with other countries', though they still need promotions abroad.
Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of Bac Giang Provincial People's Committee, said that her province will hold several litchi promotion conferences, starting with one in Pingxiang, China in May 2018, Bac Giang in June 2018, and one Litchi week in Hanoi later on.
Litchi and longan are the two main fruit-bearing crops in northern provinces, with a total area of 98,000 hectares, accounting for 27 per cent of total agricultural harvest, whose accumulated output is estimated to exceed 217,000 tons in 2018.
