Romania and China Strengthen Customs and Agri-Food Cooperation under the Belt & Road Initiative

On the morning of March 18, 2026, in Beijing, Ms. Sun Meijun, Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, held an official meeting with a Romanian delegation led by Florin Barbu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Alexandru Nicolae Bociu, President of the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA).

Customs and Quarantine Cooperation

The discussions focused on deepening cooperation in customs and quarantine control, with the aim of facilitating bilateral trade flows and improving the efficiency of agri-food exchanges. According to official statements, both parties expressed their commitment to implementing simplified and standardized procedures for the import and export of agricultural and food products, in line with international regulations.

Promoting Agri-Food Trade

The meeting highlighted the importance of supporting the sustainable development of trade in agricultural and food products between Romania and China. In this context, Romania aims to leverage the comparative advantages of its agricultural sector — including dairy products, meat, and cereals — to meet the growing demand of the Chinese market.

Belt & Road Initiative and Food Safety

Particular attention was given to cooperation in the field of food safety, a key pillar of the Belt & Road Initiative. Within this framework, Romania and China seek to develop joint mechanisms for quality monitoring, exchange of best practices, and professional training for personnel involved in sanitary-veterinary control.

Signing of Cooperation Documents

In the presence of Minister Sun Meijun and Minister Florin Barbu, Zhao Zenglian, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, and President Alexandru Nicolae Bociu signed the relevant cooperation documents. This formal step marks tangible progress in implementing the commitments undertaken by both countries.

Diplomatic Support

The meeting was also attended by Dan-Horia Maxim, Romania’s Ambassador to China, who reiterated the importance of strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations and emphasized the role of economic diplomacy in promoting Romania’s interests on Asian markets.

Economic Impact and Outlook

Economic analysts estimate that this cooperation will contribute to increasing bilateral trade volumes and strengthening Romania’s position as a reliable partner on the Chinese market. Furthermore, the implementation of common food safety standards is expected to enhance the competitiveness of Romanian products and open new export opportunities in key agri-food sectors.