India's long pending agricultural market access issues were taken up with China during the bilateral meeting between Commerce Secretary Anup Wadhawan and Vice Minister of General Administration of China Customs (GACC) Zhang Jiwen in Beijing last week, an official statement said here on Monday.
During the visit from January 21-22, trade of agricultural products were discussed by Mr Wadhawan and Mr Zhang, an understanding reached on this matter at the Informal Summit in Wuhan last year between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Since that Summit, the protocol on exports of non-basmati rice was signed in June 2018 on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
Six Indian mills for export of rapeseed meal was also approved by GACC to China. On export of fish meal and fish oil, the protocol was signed during the visit of China's Vice Minister of GACC to New Delhi in November 2018.
The GACC has also deputed experts To inspect Indian soyabean meal establishments and pomegranate orchards and pack houses.
The SPS Protocols for these products are at an advanced stage of negotiation.
During the visit of Dr Wadhawan, India and China also signed the protocol for exports of Indian tobacco leaves to China.
Quality of tobacco on par with international standards is available in India at competitive prices and there is good potential for export of Indian tobacco to China.
The revival of the phytosanitory protocol with China will pave the way for revival of Indian tobacco exports to China and prove economically beneficial to Indian farmers.
The recent period has thus seen significant progress in market access for a number of agricultural and allied products from India.
The Commerce Secretary requested the GACC to expedite market access for other products like okra, soyabean, bovine meat and dairy products.
Dr Wadhawan also held a bilateral meeting with, Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Commerce Wang Shouwen, to discuss the progress made under Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations and efforts to strengthen bilateral trade.