欧盟农业委员沃伊切沃夫斯基
中国驻欧盟使团公使 彭刚
On September 20th, the GIPE 2024, hosted by the Luzhou Municipal Government with key support from the Trade Development Bureau of MOFCOM and the EU Delegation to China, grandly opened at the Luzhou International Exhibition Center.
Dignitaries attending the opening ceremony included Wu Hongbo, Special Representative for European Affairs of the Chinese Government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Li Changping, former Vice Chairman of the 12th Sichuan Provincial CPPCC, Hannes Hanso, Estonian Ambassador to China, Jean Louis Robinson, Madagascar Ambassador to China, Alain Wong Yen Cheong, Mauritius Ambassador to China, Liu Dianxun, Director-General of the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, Pan Feng, Vice Chairman of the China-Europe Association on Technical and Economic Cooperation, Li Ming, Deputy Director Genral` of the Treaty and Law Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Carlos Sáenz de Tejada, Consul General of Spain in Chengdu, Guillaume DELVALLEE, Consul General of France in Chengdu, and Aron Mir Haschemi, Consul General of Germany in Chengdu. Video messages were delivered by Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture, and Peng Gang, Minister at the Chinese Mission to the EU. Over 300 distinguished guests from China and abroad, including officials from embassies and consulates of the EU, Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Germany, Austria, Cyprus, as well as representatives from national ministries, domestic and foreign industry associations, renowned geographical indications product companies, research institutions, investment institutions, and legal organizations, attended the ceremony. During the opening, collaborative efforts between cities within the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone to promote geographical indications industries were initiated, injecting new momentum into the development of geographical indications in the region.
Wu Hongbo emphasized in his speech that in recent years, practical cooperation between China and Europe in various fields has made significant progress, deepening in areas such as trade, green development, culture, and technology. The China-Europe Geographical Indications Products Expo serves as a platform to enhance openness and mutual trust. He expressed confidence that through promotional cooperation between China and Europe, more high-quality products would benefit the people of both sides and foster friendly cooperation. Holding the Geographical Indications Products Expo is an important measure to promote the implementation of the agreement and to achieve practical results. Over the past four years, China and Europe have worked together to vigorously promote the high-level protection of geographical indications products and the high-quality development of the industry. An increasing number of geographical indications products have shone brightly at platforms like this expo, becoming widely welcomed in both Chinese and European markets. The numerous activities held during this expo are also paving the way for the high-quality development of the geographical indications industry in China, Europe, and even in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Estonian Ambassador Hannes Hanso remarked that in 2023, the EU exported nearly 14.6 billion euros of agricultural products and imported over 8.3 billion euros of agricultural products. China has become one of the EU's largest trading partners, and in 2023, China was the EU's third-largest destination for agricultural and food products, accounting for 6% of the EU's total agricultural exports. Additionally, the EU is the fifth-largest source of agricultural imports for China. This Geographical Indications Products Expo will further promote trade relations between EU and Chinese agricultural and food companies, helping to develop mutually beneficial and enduring cooperative relationships. Estonia looks forward to providing Chinese buyers, retailers, importers, and distributors with relevant insights and understanding.
Madagascar Ambassador Jean Louis Robinson, in his speech, highlighted that Luzhou, a beautiful city renowned for its rich cultural heritage, enchanting scenery, and the famous Luzhou Laojiao liquor, was a fitting host for this conference. He also acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Commerce of China and the Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in making this expo a showcase for world-class products and a testament to cooperative innovation and cultural exchange.
Mauritius Ambassador Alain Wong Yen Cheong expressed his strong commitment to collaboration with Luzhou, hoping to promote Mauritius' unique agricultural, artisanal, and seafood products in the Chinese market. He anticipated that m]ore Chinese consumers would come to appreciate and enjoy the culture and products of Mauritius. At the same time, he welcomed high-quality products from Luzhou into the Mauritian market to meet the increasingly diverse demands of Mauritian consumers. Ambassador Wang emphasized that strengthening cooperation could facilitate trade and promote economic development, bringing more opportunities for businesses in both countries.
Liu Dianxun pointed out that the Chinese government places great importance on the protection of intellectual property rights, continually enhancing the level of protection. The successful hosting of two previous China-Europe Geographical Indications Products Expos demonstrates the growing influence of the event, with increasing professionalization and greater representation of countries and enterprises. He hoped this platform would continue to contribute more significantly to the development of China and foreign geographical indications products.
Pan Feng noted that China is an important market for EU agricultural products, with a total trade volume of USD 30.99 billion in 2023, up 1.4% from the previous year. The cooperation between China and the EU on geographical indications highlights the complementary strengths and mutual benefits of both sides. The hosting of this expo will provide new growth momentum for China-EU economic and trade cooperation, fostering further exchanges and cooperation in policy communication, standards recognition, and market development. Adhering to the principle of "promoting China-EU economic and trade cooperation, deepening cultural exchange," the expo aims to jointly promote brand building and market expansion for geographical indications products.
The three-day Global Geographical Indications Products Expo, themed "Strengthening Geographical Indications Protection, Promoting High-Quality Industrial Development," featured Spain as the guest of honor and Gulin County as the thematic county. During the expo, 11 major thematic events were held, including the opening ceremonies of the Guest of Honor Pavilion, the China-EU Geographical Indications Pavilion, and the China-Europe Geographical Indications Products Supply-Demand Matchmaking Conference, as well as live e-commerce activities. There were also 10 supporting events, including thematic county (Gulin County) activities, the Luzhou Longan Picking Festival, and the Luzhou Entrepreneurs Tour. More than 30 distinguished foreign guests, including ambassadors and representatives from over 20 countries, such as Spain, France, and Madagascar, participated in the event, discussing cooperation and jointly exploring new paths for trade, investment, and cultural exchange involving China and foreign geographical indications products. Meanwhile, the organizers collaborated with nearly 1,000 companies to create an online version of the expo, offering consumers a new digital shopping experience and presenting a professional, exciting, distinctive, and innovative international event.
This third China-Europe Geographical Indications Products Expo set new records in terms of the number of participating companies and products, with over 60% of exhibitors specializing in geographical indications products, the highest proportion in the event's history. The expo covered an exhibition area of 45,000 square meters and featured six themed pavilions: the Spain Pavilion, the China-EU Geographical Indications Products Pavilion, the Premium Liquor Pavilion, the Special Production Regions Pavilion, the Comprehensive Pavilion, and the Thematic County Pavilion—Gulin Pavilion. Over 3,200 unique products were on display, including Polish amber, Peruvian alpaca handicrafts, Jiangjin jade, Youyang camellia oil, Yanyuan apples, Zengcheng silk seedlings, Puning banana citrus, and Nansha blue crabs. The Guest of Honor Spain Pavilion showcased signature Spanish food products, such as olive oil, ham, cheese, and wine, hosting activities like wine tasting, ham slicing, and classic dish appreciation, promoting Spanish culinary culture to enterprises and the public.