Phil Hogan, European Union commissioner for agriculture and rural development, speaks at a tasting event in the pavilion of the European Union, the Region of Honour, at the SIAL China exhibition in Shanghai. [Photo provided to China Daily]
EU commissioner leads delegation to China to promote the trading bloc's farm products
The European Union sees the bloc's relationship with China as precious, healthy and full of potential, according to Phil Hogan, the EU commissioner for agriculture and rural development.
Hogan began a six-day trip to Shanghai and Shenzhen on May 14.
Accompanied by representatives of 71 organizations and companies from the European agri-food sector, he said the delegation was the largest since he was appointed EU commissioner in 2014.
"This reflects the importance of the Chinese market and the strong desire of many European companies to build stronger business and trade relationships with their Chinese counterparts for their mutual benefit," he said.
The main purpose of the trip was to facilitate exchange and agreements between European and Chinese businesses, while building on existing trade.
Hogan and the delegates participated in the opening of SIAL China-Asia's largest food and beverage innovation exhibition - in Shanghai on May 16. The EU and 25 of its member nations occupied more than 6,000 square meters of exhibition space at the event, which runs until May 19.
Last month in Boao, President Xi Jinping unveiled a series of measures to further open up China's economy, including increasing imports and lowering tariffs.

"China is our second-largest trade partner, both in terms of trade of agri-food products and total trade of goods," Hogan said. "And we believe there is great potential to do much more."