Working groups formed in Xiamen for faster and easier import of Serbian agricultural products into China

The customs in Xiamen, China, has formed special working groups to ensure that the import procedures for agricultural products from Serbia run smoothly, the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture announced. This ensures that products from Serbia arrive on time and in accordance with strict Chinese standards, the statement said.

A Serbian delegation led by Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Dragan Glamocic was ceremonially welcomed in Xiamen.

The host, Director of Customs in the city of Xiamen, Zhu Guangyao, recalled during the meeting that the first container with Serbian products arrived in China on June 10 this year, and that this event opened the door for our agricultural products, which for the first time found their place in the complex customs zone in Xian.

During this visit, the Serbian delegation had the opportunity to see how everything works - from customs procedures, through quality control, to the distribution of goods on the Chinese market.

– China is a friend of Serbia that shows respect and trust in action. Since the moment the first container with our products arrived, up through today, we have seen how quickly and efficiently this system works – said Minister Glamocic.

Thanks to the Free Trade Agreement, which was signed by the two countries in the presence of president Xi Jinping and Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian products arrive in China under more favorable conditions. According to this agreement, as much as 95 percent of the total value of trade will be exempt from customs duties, which gives our agricultural and food products an exceptional advantage in the huge Chinese market.

The Director of Customs in Xiamen particularly emphasized the importance of connecting the customs services of Serbia and China:

– Serbia is our steel friend. Cooperation between the customs of Xiamen and Belgrade will mean that Serbian products will arrive faster, more reliably and in accordance with the highest standards. We want to help as many Serbian companies as possible find their place in the Chinese market.

Xiamen is not only a trade center, but also a place that symbolizes mutual respect. It is here that the “Serbian House” will open, which will serve as a platform for the promotion of Serbian culture, tourism and economy. In addition, in the Xianyang distribution zone, where global brands such as Heineken, Dell and Echo already operate, it is expected that Serbian products will get their deserved place, the Ministry’s statement reminds.

– Our products will go from here not only to the whole of China, but also to Japan, Korea and other RCEP countries. This is an opportunity that Serbia must not miss – the hosts emphasized.

The strength of Xiamen customs is best seen in numbers. In 2024 alone, this port and customs zone achieved a total trade of more than 930 billion yuan (about 128 billion US dollars), while exports amounted to more than 498 billion yuan, which is an increase of over 11 percent compared to the previous year. In the first half of 2025, more than 5.9 million containers (TEU) passed through Xiamen, confirming its status as one of China’s most important logistics hubs. These data show why Xiamen is a strategic point for Serbian products to enter the Chinese market and the wider region, the statement concludes.

Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije

Ministry of Agriculture

Customs Xiamen China

customs zone Xian

Dragan Glamočić

Zhu Guangyao