Attendees at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai had the opportunity to taste Irish beef and it proved popular among the crowds.

The Bord Bia stand was the only one where European beef was available for tasting and crowds formed a lengthy queue in order to get a taste.

Attendees at the CIIE in Shanghai take the opportunity to taste Irish beef. \ Bord Bia

This is the first year the expo has been held and there is a projected attendance of 150,000 buying professionals.

It is being held in the National Exhibition and Convention Centre (NECC) which has an area of 500,000m2, which is equivalent to 123 acres.

Attendees at the CIIE in Shanghai take the opportunity to taste Irish beef. \ Bord Bia

CIIE is an initiative from Chinese president Xi Jingping as part of the country’s One Belt, One Road strategy to encourage global trade.

Along with the beef samples, there were also 11 Irish exhibitors from the pigmeat, dairy and beef sectors.

Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy and Minister of State Andrew Doyle also attended the expo earlier in the week, along with officials from the Department of Agriculture.

Sinead McPhillips and Paula Barry-Walsh from the Department of Agriculture had been in Beijing attending technical meetings with their Chinese counterparts.

At the meetings, further access for Irish beef was discussed and sheepmeat access talks were designated a priority in 2019.

Attendees at the CIIE in Shanghai take the opportunity to taste Irish beef. \ Bord Bia

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