The recent visit of Wang Lingjun, China’s Vice Minister of Customs to Chile was a great opportunity for bilateral relations, given the potential for trade beyond traditional exports. The visit, part of a tour of South America, is evidence of the solid relations between both countries, which covers numerous sectors, including meat.
The visit by the Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, Wang Lingjun, started with the signing of the protocol for the entry of Chilean almonds to the Chinese market. The ceremony was headed by the Chilean President, Gabriel Boric, joined by the Chilean ministers of International Affairs and Agriculture. The signing is a milestone for Chile’s export basket expansion in the Chinese market. “This is good news for trade, for agriculture, and for our country’s economy since, as I have repeatedly said, this is our takeoff year,” said President Boric.
The signing of the customs protocol with the presence of President Boric underlines its importance for opening new doors to Chile’s foreign trade. The agreement is part of the 2023-2025 Sustainable Agri-Export Competitiveness Agenda, aimed at diversifying Chilean exports to China.
The ceremony ended with the signing of significant agricultural agreements, strengthening cooperation in organic food certification, health protocols, and agricultural development. The Chilean Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, and Vice Minister Wang highlighted both countries’ ongoing commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and opening the path to new opportunities for more inclusive and diversified trade, beyond white meat.
The Chinese official also met with representatives from Chilean food sector associations and the National Director of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), José Guajardo, to advance more agreements that benefit the sector. Juan Carlos Domínguez, President of ChileCarne, attended the meeting and pointed out that: “China is the primary destination market for Chilean pork and the third for poultry. The Vice Minister’s visit to Chile as part of his South America tour reinforces the good trade relations between both countries. His visit helps reinforce Chile’s food exporting sector commitment to China and its people, to provide them with products of the highest quality thus contributing to their food security.”
Pork and poultry are two of the main Chilean products exported to China, which is the primary market for Chilean pork and an important destination for poultry.
Meat trade between Chile and China strengthened its strategic framework in 2023. Chile became the Asian giant’s eighth largest white meat supplier. In the case of pork, Chile
represented 4.9% of Chinese imports, with a total of 2,652,567 CWE tons. For poultry, Chile was China’s eighth supplier, equivalent to 0.8% of Chinese imports with 1,308,193 CWE tons.
“These figures not only illustrate Chile’s growing importance as a key meat supplier to China, but also the Chinese market’s confidence in the quality and safety of Chilean products,” Domínguez highlighted.
The visit of the Chinese Vice Minister not only symbolizes the consolidation of existing trade relations but also the exploration of new paths for bilateral cooperation, highlighting Chile’s commitment to sustainable growth and its expansion in the Chinese market.
