France is to benefit the most from the China-EU Geographical Indications (GI) agreement, according to the Chinese ambassador to France, Lu Shaye.

Out of the 96 EU products to be protected in China as part of the GI agreement, which came into effect on March 1, 24 are from France. 

"French agricultural products are very famous historically. French products like red wine and cheese are familiar to Chinese consumers and quite popular on the Chinese market," Lu told CGTN Europe. 

"The GI agreement will facilitate French agricultural exports to China," he added.

READ MORE:

China-EU GI deal comes into force

Brazil-discovered variant found in UK

Europe struggles with Long COVID-19

The deal, which was agreed in September 2020, protects the names of 96 European Geographical Indications in China and 100 Chinese Geographical Indications in Europe against imitation, but will go on to protect 550 products.

The Geographical Indications are the names of products with unique characteristics linked to their place of origin, for example Feta cheese and Champagne. The reason there are 96 EU products - rather than 100 - is that four of the initially protected items were from the UK, and the EU says that as a result of Brexit those products are no longer protected as part of this deal.

Watch: CGTN Europe's Toni Waterman explains the agreement:

The EU list of GIs to be protected in China includes Cava, Champagne, Feta, Irish whiskey, Münchener Bier, Ouzo, Polska Wodka, Porto, Prosciutto di Parma and Queso Manchego. 

Among the Chinese GI products, the list includes Pixian Dou Ban (Pixian Bean Paste), Anji Bai Cha (Anji White Tea), Panjin Da Mi (Panjin rice) and Anqiu Da Jiang (Anqiu Ginger).

"The agreement provides mutual benefits [for the EU and China] and protects Chinese products here in the Europe," said Ambassador Lu.

"It provides a mechanism to guarantee exports in a more standardized and orderly way, which is conducive to the export of Chinese products to Europe," he added.

Video editor: James Sandifer