Staff members process imported shrimps at a food company in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, April 19, 2025. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chongqing - At a recent roundtable meeting hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Chongqing Committee (CCPIT Chongqing), diplomatic officials from countries including Myanmar and the Philippines expressed their hope to continue deepening agricultural cooperation with Chongqing in the future.

The Philippines and Chongqing have close agricultural trade, with 6.919 billion yuan of agricultural trade value in 2024, revealed by Ivan Frank M. Olea, Consul General of the Philippines in Chongqing.

Olea encourages companies in Chongqing and nearby areas to explore trade with the Philippines and consider investing in sustainable agriculture through partnerships with local businesses and farmers to produce high-value crops like durian, mangosteen, soursop, coconut, and mango.

Myanmar remains a key agricultural partner of Chongqing. U Kyaw Zay Yar Lin, Consul-General of Myanmar in Chongqing, emphasized that trade fairs and agricultural exhibitions have steadily boosted the global visibility of Myanmar’s agricultural products.

"I am looking forward the investments from Chongqing enterprises into cold-chain logistics, storage facilities, and processing centers in Myanmar, (as these efforts) are helping reduce waste and improve product quality," he said.

The Global Business Link - International Cooperation Roundtable Meeting of Chongqing Agricultural Products brought about 50 participants, including representatives from consulates and trade organizations of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative—such as those from ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe—as well as executives from relevant Chongqing-based enterprises.

In 2024, the number of exported agricultural product categories in Chongqing expanded to more than 20, with total export value reaching 1.63 billion yuan ($227.43 million)—a year-on-year increase of 39.8%, outpacing the national average by 34.5 percentage points and ranking among the highest in the country. 

At the same time, agricultural imports into Chongqing totaled 14.7 billion yuan, up 2.2% year-on-year, as large volumes of beef, fruit, rice, wine, and other products from ASEAN, Latin America, and Europe entered the local market via the China-Europe Railway Express and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, according to Zhang Haiqing, Vice Chairman of the China Chamber of International Commerce Chongqing Chamber of Commerce.

Zhang said the event focused on advancing international cooperation in agricultural trade. It aimed to help enterprises better match supply with demand, understand agricultural import and export policies in relevant countries, and navigate issues related to cross-border settlement.

Chen Yongjun, Chairman of Chongqing Agricultural Products (Group) Co., Ltd., said the group has in recent years focused on advancing its internationalization strategy by prioritizing key sectors such as fruit, meat, and grain, while leveraging chamber platforms to expand its import and export operations. Several of its subsidiaries have achieved notable progress. 

For example, the group's agricultural import and export company has established partnerships with enterprises in major overseas meat-producing regions. In contrast, its food technology subsidiary in Chongqing's Wanzhou District exports more than 1,000 tons of canned meat annually to Hong Kong and Singapore.

"We hope to use this event as an opportunity to actively explore and deepen economic and trade cooperation between our group and enterprises from around the world," Chen added.