Chiles Minister of Agriculture, Antonio Walker, recently said that after an official visit to Chile by Ni Yuefeng, Director-General of Customs in China, Chile has re-signed agreements with relevant Chinese authorities on the requirements of shipping fresh fruits in refrigerated storage and the export of open hazelnuts and poultry products to China.

Chilean website "noticiaslogisticaytransporte" reported on Dec. 10 that Anthony Walker pointed out that China has increased quarantine measures for Chilean turkeys due to the avian influenza outbreak. In addition, he believed that re-signment of the agreement with China would speed up Chiles European pear entry into the Chinese market and create more fruits export revenue for Chile.

"We have opened the market for Chilean bee products to be sold in China. In addition, we have signed an agreement with the relevant departments of China Customs on Chiles opening of hazelnuts to enter China. The area of hazelnuts cultivation in Chile has reached 23,000 hectares." He said.

Anthony Walker said another agreement with China was that fruits shipped to China from Chile could be stored and transported not only in containers, but also in warehouses.

Ronald Bown, President of the Chilean Association of Fruit Export Enterprises (ASOEX) said that ASOEX had been closely following negotiations between the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture and relevant Chinese customs authorities. He pointed out that ASOEX also played a very important role in the re-signment and negotiation of the agreement.