(12 Photos) U.S. Ambassador Sends Goodwill Message to China's Food Industry at Conference, USDEC Reception

Dairy business relationships continue as the U.S. and Chinese governments hold high-stakes talks about tariffs and trade. 

The China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce (CFNA) has more than 6,000 member organizations devoted to agriculture, including more than 1,000 in the dairy sector alone.

Affiliated with the China Department of Commerce, CFNA member companies account for more than 70% of China's  agricultural volume. Members range from China's largest multinational agro-farming companies to trading corporations to small food companies. 

Why is CFNA important to U.S. dairy exports? The association plays a leading role feeding a population of more than 1.4 billion people, the largest of any country in the world. Think of all the people in the United States, multiply by four, and China's population is still larger. 

U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad addresses the CFNA conference in Beijing after accepting an invitation facilitated by USDEC.

The U.S. Dairy Export Council seized an opportunity to send a positive message at CFNA's annual conference this week, even as the U.S. and China continued talks hammering out a new trade agreement amid retaliatory tariffs that are hurting U.S. Dairy exports to China. 

At USDEC's request, U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad gave an address to CFNA conference attendees in Beijing this week. Branstad also mingled with Chinese dairy industry leaders at an USDEC reception. 

The interaction occurred as the U.S. Embassy continues to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the Normalization of the Relationship between the United States and China.

Branstad's presence conveyed a spirit of U.S. goodwill that was well received by those attending both events. That message was reinforced by Bobby Richey, minister counselor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). 

USDEC Executive Vice President Marc Beck gave a data-based presentation at the conference emphasizing the U.S. dairy industry's desire and ability to help meet China's increasing demand for dairy products. 

Photos below capture the positive atmosphere.

U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad speaks at an USDEC reception attended by Chinese dairy importers. 

Standing, left to right, are Bobby Richey, USDA Minister Counselor; Cao Derong, president of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs and Native Produce (CFNA); Terry Branstad, U.S. Ambassador to China; Madame Yu Lu, vice president of CFNA, and Marc Beck, executive vice president at the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

CFNA has more than 6,000 member companies devoted to Chinese agriculture, including more than 1,000 in the dairy sector alone.

An image of U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad is captured with a smartphone camera held by a conference attendee. 

Bobby Richey, minister counselor of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), expresses a friendly message promoting trade. 

USDEC Executive Vice President Marc Beck utilizes charts and graphs to show that China's need for imported dairy products has grown dramatically.

USDEC Executive Vice President Marc Beck emphasizes the U.S. dairy industry's desire and ability to help meet the demands of China's consumers. 

This display communicates the ongoing support of U.S. dairy companies doing business in China.  

 U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad extends a warm handshake to Madame Yu Lu, vice president of CFNA.

Lapel pins commemorate the 40^th Anniversary of the Normalization of the Relationship between the United States and China.

Employees from USDEC's China office assist an attendee with her lapel pin. 

Mark O'Keefe is vice president of editorial services at the U.S. Dairy Export Council. 

Learn more:

• Tariffs Won't Slow U.S. Dairy's Pursuit of Ambitious Export Goal (video)
• Prediction: China will Become the World's Big Cheese
• U.S.-China Dairy Partnership Launched to Meet Future Demand for Nutritious Products (VIDEO)
• USDEC Goes to China to Expand Dairy Trade
   

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The U.S. Dairy Export Council fosters collaborative industry partnerships with processors, trading companies and others to enhance global demand for U.S. dairy products and ingredients. USDEC is primarily supported by Dairy Management Inc. through the dairy farmer checkoff. How to republish this post.