China’s Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has set a target of at least US$40bn in agricultural exports by 2013 and no less than US$30bn in the next four to five years. China is the world's sixth largest agricultural exporter.
Agricultural exports surged to US$21.24bn in 2003 from less than US$10bn in 1990, with an average annual growth rate of 13% since 2000.
The ministry said in a statement jointly issued with other government agencies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and the People's Bank of China, that China will provide more policy support for agricultural exports.
The government will encourage local export administrations to draft supportive policies for agricultural exports and strengthen the quality of their management.
The government will also encourage the establishment of export associations for different agricultural products and improve the export credit insurance system.
