Zhuhai works with Portugal to ensure food safety

The Zhuhai Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau signed a partnership framework agreement with the Portuguese Authority for Food & Economic Safety (ASAE) in Macao on May 2 on technical cooperation in terms of food monitoring and supervision.

The endeavor is to better serve Portugal, Guangdong, and Macao-based small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in Sino-Portuguese trade, facilitate customs clearance, and develop Zhuhai and Macao into bridgeheads in international trade with Portuguese-speaking countries, a spokesperson announced.  

Both parties will work on laboratory technology development, management and operation, information and data sharing, project collaboration, personnel exchange, and corporate training. A new inspection and quarantine model of "pre-posed imported food inspection" will be explored.

Signing ceremony [Photo courtesy hkcd.com]

According to the bureau director, Li Qingxiang, the subordinate Zhuhai Import & Export Public Technical Service Platform will further serve overseas Chinese and Portuguese merchants in Guangdong and Macao. Services such as information inquiry, quality appraisal, technical training, technical support, detection, and authentication will legalize trade activities in the three areas, promote regional sustainable and sound economic development, and contribute to the industrial collaboration and integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.  

Statistics show that the gross value of import and export commodities between China and Portuguese-speaking countries reached $83.23 billion from January to November in 2016, with $56.54 billion imports and $26.69 billion exports respectively. The overall reform and innovation development scheme of the Guangdong Free Trade Zone Hengqin Area calls for the building of a Portuguese-speaking countries economic and commercial platform with Macao. To bolster economic development of the Hengqin FTZ, the city Entry-Exit Inspection & Quarantine Bureau insisted upon deep communication with Portugal in terms of inspection, quarantine, and quality monitoring of food and agricultural produces last year. 

The official Community of Portuguese Language consists of Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé & Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.