Chinese firms going big at Paris agriculture show

From tea to specialty regional produce and even high-tech farming solutions, China is making a big push at Europe’s best-known farming expo, the Salon de l'Agriculture in Paris, bringing dozens of companies to the French capital. 

Exhibitors at the show are using the fair to pitch themselves directly to French buyers and consumers, with some testing the waters in Europe for the first time, hoping Paris can open the door to long-term commercial ties and generate more business.

Jerry Liu from Blue Phoenix Food told CGTN, "We're already exporting to Africa and Malaysia, south of Asia, the Middle East, so now is our first time in Europe, to France, so we want to explore more opportunities and to find, maybe, partnerships."

China's presence at the show is also being watched closely at an official level. The country's ambassador to France, Deng Li, toured the pavilion this week, sampling products and meeting business owners, underlining that agriculture remains a key part of the wider relationship between Beijing and Paris. 

He told reporters: "Both China and France are major agricultural countries. In this field, the two sides have already carried out very productive cooperation."

For China, this isn't just a trade showcase, but a chance to demonstrate to the international community how its agricultural sector is evolving - from well-known regional specialities to tech and even exciting niche products like traditional Chinese medicine products for pets.

Ambassador Deng Li went on to say: "This is a first step towards new cooperation between China and France. As you know, China has been a major importer of French agricultural products. 

"Earlier, I visited the meat and dairy products section. The Chinese market remains the largest market for French products. But also, we have some very fine Chinese products that we will present to French consumers."

The Salon de l'Agriculture runs until the beginning of March, with Chinese companies saying the event provides them a rare chance to meet potential business partners in person, gather feedback and build brand recognition in a very competitive market.

The focus here is firmly on visibility and momentum, as exporters look beyond established destinations and toward Europe, for the next stage of growth.