Chinese set for Welsh meat talks

- Published: 19 July, 2010

A Chinese trade and investment minister is meeting the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) today (Monday) to improve Welsh meat links between the two countries.

Zhou Xiaoming, Minister Counsellor in charge of trade and investment issues between China and the UK ,will be attending the Royal Welsh Show today, where he will tour the Llanelwedd showground and spend 45 minutes at the FUW pavilion, meeting the president Gareth Vaughan and other members of the union’s presidential team.

Vaughan said today that at the lunch Mr Xiaoming revealed his country could offer market opportunities for Welsh beef and sheep producers following on from a previous encounter.

“He told us Wales had a lot to offer the people of China and that as their incomes increase, the Chinese consumer was looking more and more for imported meat products.

“In fact, in the first 11 months of 2009, China imported $7m worth of pig products and $50m worth of beef and I remember Mr Xiaoming saying that the door to China is now open to meat products from different countries and they are ready to help connect us with Chinese markets, not least with Welsh Black beef and mountain lamb.”

Average meat consumption in China is now said to be 54kg/person, compared to 70-130kg/person in Western countries. Forty years ago, it was just 4kg/person in China.

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