Ukraine's agricultural exporters seek greater access to Chinese market

KIEV - Ukrainian agricultural exporters are exploring new ways to bring their products into the Chinese market, Ukrainian Agriculture Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

"China belongs to the key strategic trade partners of Ukraine. We aim to deepen our cooperation on the access of Ukraine-made agricultural and food products to the market of China," Volodymyr Lapa, head of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection of Ukraine, was quoted as saying in a statement.

Next year, Ukraine plans to launch a cargo train to China via the rail-sea Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which would reduce the delivery time of cargos between the countries, allowing Ukraine to export more short-lived food to China.

In particular, Ukrainian exporters have voiced the plans to deliver fruits, berries and meat to the Chinese market.

According to the Ukrainian statistics, China became Ukraine's largest partner in agriculture and food products trade last year, with bilateral sales rising by 39.5 percent to $1.3 billion.

Currently, Ukraine's agricultural exports to China comprises primarily of corn, sunflower oil, soybean oil and wheat flour.