10:58 | Beijing (China), May. 17.
While giving an overview of the Peru-China Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA), Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Eduardo Ferreyros highlighted the Asian Giant would consolidate its position as Peru’s number one trade partner this year.
Speaking at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, the government official affirmed the number of Peruvian companies exporting to China has been on the rise since July.
"In fact, China is our main trade partner. We are working on forging a closer alliance to sell them higher added-value products, particularly in the field of agricultural exports," he noted.
In this sense, Ferreyros said his visit to China —within the framework of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Summit— is also an opportunity to meet with sanitation authorities.
"Our relationship is based on a successful free trade agreement, and our presence in China is to strengthen these ties," he pointed out.
Bilateral trade
The Foreign Trade head stressed the agreement will allow Peru to gradually increase its added-value exports to the Asian country.
"While it is true that most of our exports to China are primary products that will change over time through the FTA," he projected.
Regarding value chains, Ferreyros informed Peru is trying to boost alpaca fine fiber chains, as well as nutrient-rich products through the Superfoods Peru brand.
To this end, the Andean country needs to work on overcoming sanitary barriers by meeting China’s requirements.
"We are about to get [market] access for shrimps, and the meeting I'll have with Chinese authorities will contribute to obtaining access for quinoa and blueberries, which are two highly successful products."
Ferreyros went on to add the Asian Giant is currently Peru's main trade partner, whereas the United States stands as its main buyer of non-traditional products.
In this respect, he explained destinations for Peruvian exports are comprised of China, the U.S., Europe and Latin America.
"They are four diversified markets, but China is the number one among them. And it will consolidate its position this year as we increasingly sell them more value-added products," he pointed out.
Tourism
Concerning the tourism sector, the high-ranking official underscored the need to further improve connectivity to boost arrivals of Chinese tourists, which are still "fairly low."
"They [arrivals] stood at 25,000 in 2016, and we expect 35,000 this year. To this end, we are promoting campaigns in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to attract tourists," he informed.
In addition, Ferreyros shared plans to invite a Chinese mission of tour operators to Peru for an event later this year.
(END) DOP/DHT/MVB
Published: 5/17/2017