Dr. TanDY
Joined: 02 Nov 2005
Posts: 1345
Location: Selangor, Malaysia
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| Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject: [News] M'sia Seeks Agri Ties with China |
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Malaysia Seeks More Agricultural Ties With China To Beef Up Food Chain
September 06, 2006
Source: Bernama
DALIAN, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is seeking to intensify agricultural links with China, particularly in the fishery and livestock sectors, to boost self-sufficiency and diversify its food sources, Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Wednesday.
Muhyiddin, who toured aquaculture and fishing facilities in this northeastern port city, said efforts would be fast-tracked to increase the capacity to produce food and to reduce the current deficit of RM5 million in Malaysia's food import bill.
"We have to move faster. For this year and next year, fish and beef production will be increased so that by 2010, we can have a balanced trade in food or even a surplus," he said, adding that Malaysia had begun looking outside its traditional markets like Australia.
Muhyiddin met China's Agriculture Minister Du Qinglin and Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Li Changjiang in Beijing before travelling to Dalian in his week-long visit of China.
He said Malaysia had requested China to supply Yellow Cattle for breeding purpose and the officials would work out the details. China exports the cattle for slaughter only.
Malaysia also asked the Chinese ministers to consider opening up the mainland market to Malaysian fruits including starfruit, melon, papaya and mangosteen, said Muhyiddin.
They also discussed the possibility of lifting imports of chicken parts from China, suspended after the outbreak of avian flu.
"We will send a team to look at the situation. Malaysia is more than self-sufficient in chicken but before the ban, we did import chicken parts like breasts, thighs and wings," he said.
He also called on China to take advantage of Malaysia's halal food certification, recognised worldwide, to export to West Asia by making use of the Malaysian Export Processing Centre in Pulau Indah.
In Dalian, Muhyiddin told senior local officials that Malaysia welcomed joint ventures with Chinese partners to develop aqua farming and deep-sea tuna fishing.
"We have the government's support for this, but we hope the private sector will move faster and play a more important role in cooperation with other countries like China," he said over a breakfast meeting with Dalian vice-mayor Xing Liang Zhong and the city's chairman for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Li Bo Zhou.
Muhyiddin also visited the Dalian Aquaculture Research Centre and the state-owned Liaoning Province Dalian Ocean Fishery Group, the leading centre for China which is involved not only in deep-sea fishing but infrastructure and technology for fishing vessels, processing plants and aquatic products.
He was hosted to lunch by Li Xin Zhong, vice-chairman of the Dalian Communist Party.
Malaysia has invited China to be guest exhibitor at the Malaysian Agriculture and Horticulture show later this year.
-- BERNAMA |
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