The Sixth Myanmar - China Joint Border Trade Coordinating and Cooperating Committee Meeting was successfully held at Muse, Nothern Shan State of Myanmar on 29th April 2011. Both sides agreed concern with the biletral trade promotion.
Regarding the Myanmar’s proposal for acquiring of the duty free, quota free market access on its agricultural produce in China market, either in the manner of elimination of quota or raising of quota on export of corn and rubber which have been cultivated as opium substitution crops in Kachin and Shan states of Myanmar, the Commerce Department of Yunnan Province informed the Myanmar side the normal quota free market access provisions for agricultural produce under China-ASEAN FTA Agreement, and suggested the Myanmar side formally apply to the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China for related risk assessments for the purpose of further expansion of the export of the produce.
Regarding the proposal of Myanmar side for reducing the local tax differences imposed by Yunnan Province as compared with other Provinces (Regions) in China, the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province has agreed to review the matter and find out the differences, and promised that the local tax structures imposed by other Provinces and Regions could also be achieved by Yunnan Province.
Both sides recognized the importance of good quality and fair prices of commodities in ensuring a sustainable market, and were willing to provide assistance to enterprises from both sides through trade promotion platforms to ensure smoother and more convenient trade.
Both side acknowledged that illegal trade hinders the development of normal trade and agreed that the relevant corresponding departments of both countries should cooperate in preventing smuggling trade.
The Chinese side proposed to increase the number of border trade posts appointed by Myanmar Government, which could effectively subdue illegal trade, and agreed to cooperate with the Myanmar side in guiding the Chinese enterprises to conduct trade in border trade posts appointed by Myanmar Government.
The Chinese side welcomed the Myanmar’s proposal for market access of Myanmar flowers into Kunming flower market, agreed to provide necessary assistance, and reiterated that due attention on quality control must be adhered. The Chinese side suggested that if Myanmar business entrepreneurs are interested in market study (the Myanmar business delegation should be headed by the Director General of the Department of Border Trade), the Chinese side would actively cooperate to organize local importers to meet them.
Regarding the upgrading of border trade posts, it is noted that the construction and upgrading of road which is from the Wangding- Metmine entry/exit gate to Muse 105 mile had successfully completed and that Wangding- Metmine entry/exit gate is going to be upgraded into National Level Gate by the Chinese side. The Myanmar side responded that Muse (105) mile Trade Zone has already existed in that area and trading can be carried out between Wangding- Metmine entry/exit gate and Muse (105) mile Trade Zone.
