Canadian seafood makes a splash in Qingdao
( chinadaily.com.cn )
Updated: 2016-11-09
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Canada is hoping to hook more Chinese customers after signing a deal with e-commerce giant JD.com at the 2016 China Fisheries and Seafood Expo (CFSE) held in China's sailing capital Qingdao, on Nov 4.
The launch of the Canadian Fresh Food Promotion on JD.com, the second largest e-commerce platform in China with more than 188 million active customers, looks set to boost the Canadian seafood industry.
Lawrence Macaulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), said that China is Canada's second largest trading partner, as well as its second largest export market. In 2015, total Canadian exports to China reached 136.92 billion yuan ($20.2 billion) and two-way trade was valued at $85.8 billion, an increase of 10 percent on 2014.
He added that Canada and China enjoy a growing and ever-more dynamic relationship, with bilateral ties expanding every year. The two countries share close cooperation across an array of areas including in trade and investment, agricultural and food products, environment and climate change, security and the rule of law, arts and sports, and education and tourism.
The AAFC signed a strategic agreement with JD in June 2015, during a visit to China by AAFC Deputy Minister (DM) Andrea Lyon. As a result, the Embassy of Canada has organized two major seafood promotions with JD -- one in June 2015, as part of the DM mission, and one in November 2015.
A veritable armada of Canadian fisheries and seafood stalwarts were present at the expo this year, having attended for the past 10 years, including three federal government departments, five provincial government organizations, eight associations and 51 Canadian companies.
The Canadian booth at the 2016 China Fisheries and Seafood Expo, which was held in Qingdao from Nov 2 to 4. |
The Renewal of the Strategic Agreement between AAFC and JD.com took place on Nov 1. |