Unlocking the market and revitalizing fisheries resources between Vietnam and China

As part of the celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China (January 18, 1950 – January 18, 2025), in mid-May, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung Duc Tien led a delegation to participate in a series of significant activities in Guangxi (China) aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation in agriculture, especially in fisheries.

In Dongxing City, Guangxi Province, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien attended and delivered a speech at the 8th Vietnam-China fish stocking ceremony to replenish fisheries resources. This meaningful event is based on the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation signed between Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, witnessed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.

This annual fish stocking ceremony has been instrumental in the restoration and protection of shared fisheries resources in the Gulf of Tonkin, a sea area that is rich in biodiversity but is under significant pressure from exploitation and climate change, since the inaugural event in 2017.  Deputy Minister Tien underscored: "This activity not only contributes to the economic well-being of local fishing communities, but also serves as a striking illustration of the cordial collaboration between our two nations."

The Central Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and the Directorate of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam finalized a Memorandum of Cooperation on December 20, 2021, referring to the release, regeneration, and development of aquatic resources for the 2021–2025 period. This partnership has facilitated the mobilization of social funding to improve fish stocking initiatives, cultivate widespread public support, and substantially increase awareness of the significance of aquatic resource protection and regeneration at all societal levels.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien expressed his optimism that Vietnam and China will persist in their active and effective collaboration to protect and restore the shared fisheries resources, in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. In order to fortify the traditional and cordial relationship between the peoples of the two countries, he suggested that the appropriate authorities continue to coordinate fish stocking activities in the next few years.

Expanding trade of fisheries between Vietnam and China in Nanning by eliminating bottlenecks

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien also participated in and moderated a Vietnam–China Fisheries Supply and Demand Forum in Nanning City as part of the working travel. The Vietnam Fisheries Society and the Yingjinlin Group collaborated to organize the event. The objective of this practical initiative is to stimulate agri-fisheries trade between the two countries, eliminate trade barriers, and establish connections between businesses.

Deputy Minister Tien stated at the forum that Vietnam and China have a "mountain-to-mountain, river-to-river" geography, which provides advantageous conditions for agricultural trade, especially in the fields ò agriculture and fisheries. 

China has been Vietnam’s largest trading partner for more than 20 consecutive years, with bilateral trade volume surpassing USD 260 billion in 2024. A growing number of Vietnamese agricultural products are now reaching Chinese households. However, for trade relations to develop sustainably, they must be based on mutual legal compliance, product quality assurance, and trust.

Deputy Minister Tien also acknowledged the Vietnam Fisheries Society’s efforts in fostering connections and encouraged expanding similar forum models within Vietnam. He also proposed organizing field trips in Vietnam to introduce Chinese partners to the country’s diverse aquaculture ecosystems and the significant potential of other agricultural products such as fruits and processed foods.

The Vietnamese delegation included leaders from key agencies such as the Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, the Directorate of Fisheries, and the Fisheries Surveillance Department. This trip provided a valuable opportunity for regulatory authorities to directly hear from businesses, address technical barriers, and better coordinate strategies for agricultural trade cooperation between the two nations.