While Ireland's Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed is in Morocco and Algeria, and European Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan visits Hong Kong, Vietnam and Indonesia, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture Michelle McIlveen is attending visits and meetings in order to strengthen existing trade for agri exports between Northern Ireland and China.

“There is no doubt that China is an increasingly important export market for Northern Ireland food producers. There are also many cultural and historic links between our two countries that are continuing to grow,” minister McIlveen said before leaving for China.

“I want to maximise this opportunity to convey Northern Ireland’s commitment to the production of high-quality, safe and wholesome food from our unique local environment, while exploring new and existing areas for exchanging knowledge, ideas and experience in the field of research and technology,” she added.

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The visit is a reciprocal one, as a delegation from China’s Jiangxi Province visited Stormont and the Chinese Consul General, Wang Shuying, was in Belfast.

The minister will lead a senior UK delegation in a formal meeting with Shaanaxi Province's governor Hu Heping and will also meet the UK Consul General John Edwards in Shanghai.

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Trade missions underway to foreign markets