Taiyuan Customs and Shanxi Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs signed a memorandum of cooperation on promoting the development of export-oriented agriculture in North China's Shanxi province on Dec 25. 

The provincial customs and agricultural departments defined areas for collaboration in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, import promotions, the development of export platforms and business platforms, as well as personnel training.

Focusing on the high-quality development of agriculture in Shanxi, the two sides will carry out cooperation on 16 items in seven fields including information sharing, international market development and biosafety protection.

There has been a long-term partnership of more than 10 years between the two parties, in the construction of demonstration zones for food and agricultural product quality and safety.

The two have jointly built 49 demonstration zones in 45 counties and districts in 11 cities across the province. This has greatly improved the quality and safety of exported farm produce and driven export-oriented agricultural economic growth.

Fruit, dried fruit, vegetables, miscellaneous grains and beans -- as well as traditional Chinese medicine materials -- from these demonstration zones have been exported to 85 countries and regions.

In addition, the two sides have established a joint prevention and control mechanism for animal and plant epidemics, such as African swine fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza.

They have also established a cooperation mechanism for examinations and approvals during the introduction of agricultural germplasm resources.

The signing of the memorandum marked a new stage in their relationship. Moving forwards, they will jointly improve trade using Shanxi's agricultural opening-up platforms and optimize the business environment at ports.