China Fisheries & Seafood Expo celebrated its 17th anniversary in Dalian during 6 - 8 November, 2012. The Expo was organised by the MOA Agricultural Trade Promotion Center (ATPC) and the Specialised Sub-Council of Agriculture of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and co-organized by the US Sea Fare Expositions Inc.
Vice Minister Niu Dun attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered remarks. The President of the Agricultural Sub-branch of CCPIT and the former Vice Minister of Agriculture Wan Baorui declared the opening of the event.
In his opening remarks, Mr Niu stated that China Fisheries & Seafood Expo has been attracting well-known enterprises around the world, exhibiting quality aquatic products, fisheries technologies and equipment, and thus has become an important globalplatform for fishery production, trade and cooperation.
As a major fishery producer and trader, China has kept steady growth in import and export of aquatic products. The sustained development in fisheries has enriched food supply in the market at home and abroad, enhanced national food security, improved people's living standard and contributed to the prosperity of rural economy.
Bolstered by the growth in fisheries in China, the Expo has kept the momentum of expanding its scale. With the great support from MOA, CCPIT and local host governments, and seventeen year's fostering, the Expo has been recognized as the Asia's largest seafood show and the second of its kind in the world.
The Expo has always faced the needs of the fishery industry, emphasized on trade promotion, and highlighted specialization and a high degree of internalisation. It serves as an effective bridge of communication and cooperation in fishery sector.It has not only played a great role in promoting China's seafood trade andintroducing foreign varieties and technologies,but also boosted seafood processing and international seafood trade.
Covering an area of 48,000 m2, the Expo falls into three exhibition areas,displaying overseas products, domestic products and fishery equipments respectively. The exhibits include aquatic products,aquaculture technology and species as well as aquaculture and fishery processing equipments.
Over 930 exhibitors from 44 countries and regions participated in the trade show. A total of 18 exhibition groups also participated in it.The exhibition area for nearly 400 overseas exhibitors accounts for 40 per cent of the total one.
It is estimated that over 15,000 purchasers, traders and professionals from over 80 countries visited the Expo.
Senior officials from foreign embassies and governments also attended the Opening Ceremony, including Ambassador Kristin A. Arnadottir of Iceland,Fisheries Undersecretary Miguel Ángel Bustamante for the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Argentina, Consul for Agricultural Trade for the US Consulate General in Shenyang, Mr. Gonzalo Matamala Commercial Counselor for the Embassy of Chile and Mrs.Diana Pita for the Embassy of the Republic of Peru.
