Japan to resume beef exports to China

November 26, 2019

Jiji Press Tokyo--Tokyo and Beijing on Monday concluded an agreement on animal health and quarantine, taking a key step toward the resumption of Japan's beef exports to China halted since 2001. Jiji Press Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, welcomed the agreement at a meeting in Tokyo the same day. Jiji Press "I strongly hope that Chinese people will enjoy delicious Japanese farm products even more," Motegi said in a joint press conference after the meeting. Jiji Press The agreement is designed to facilitate safe trade in animals and animal-derived foods through closer cooperation on cross-border controls against animal diseases. It was signed by Japanese Ambassador to China Yutaka Yokoi and Chinese Ambassador to Japan Kong Xuanyou before the ministerial meeting. Jiji Press China placed its import ban on Japanese beef after the outbreak of mad cow disease, formally called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, in Japan in September 2001. Jiji Press The two countries see the agreement as an important step toward the resumption of Japanese beef exports, with details to be worked out later. Jiji Press At the day's ministerial meeting, the first since their talks in New York in September this year, Motegi expressed to Wang concerns over the Hong Kong situation. Jiji Press According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Wang reiterated China's position that Hong Kong is an internal matter of China. Jiji Press The two ministers also confirmed their intention to seek an early conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by 16 nations including Japan, China and India. Jiji Press Before meeting Motegi, Wang had talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe said Tokyo hopes to advance cooperation to make the state visit to Japan by Chinese President Xi Jinping next spring "a meaningful one fit for the new era" of Japan-China relations. Jiji Press Wang said a three-way summit among Japan, China and South Korea slated next month in China will be an important opportunity of high-level interactions between China and Japan. Jiji Press