IFFO Director General Petter Johannessen paid an official visit to China during the week of 23rd September 2019. The busy week sees the DG paying formal visits to Chinese national associations such as China Society of Fisheries and China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association (CIQA). The constructive conversation further enhanced mutual understanding and both parties agreed on further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the future, including some promising ideas for concrete actions. The meeting at CIQA ended with a simple signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations' heads.
IFFO has been working closely with foreign Embassies in Beijing to help advancing market access files for IFFO members in China. DG Johannessen called upon the Embassies of Peru, USA and Denmark and was received by either the Ambassador himself, the Minister Counsellor or the Agriculture Attache. These meetings helped the Embassies to better understand IFFO and prioritize market access files of relevant IFFO members on Embassy working agenda.
The short 3-day visit in Beijing also brought DG Johannessen to one of China’s top feed producers, Da Bei Nong Group. The host and guest happily shared the common view on huge potential for aquaculture sector in the global and China market. Sincere invitation was extended to the feed producer to consider and join IFFO.
The last 2 days of the week were spent in Nanning city of Guangxi province in south China, where the semi-annual JCI conference is given. For many year, IFFO has been working with JCI consulting company on these popular conferences, which offer great platforms for IFFO to raise profile in this important market of China.
DG Johannessen was joined by IFFO China Director Maggie Xu on all the programs.
Author: Maggie Xu, IFFO