TIANJIN - More than 7,100 dairy cows imported from Chile were shipped to North China's Tianjin on Wednesday, making the South American country the fifth to export dairy cows to China after Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay and Romania.

The shipment of 30,000 cows was the first to be exported by Chile to China according to a bilateral agreement signed last year.

Dou Shulong, an animal quarantine official with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said the imported cows will be distributed to seven import companies in six Chinese provinces and municipalities after a quarantine period in Tianjin.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-Chile diplomatic relations.

Speaking at the delivery ceremony held at Tianjin Port, Chilean ambassador to China, Jorge Heine, said both countries were efficient in handling the transaction.

Chinese dairy farmers and dairy companies are enthusiastic about investing in well-bred dairy cows as domestic supply cannot meet demand.

China's per capita milk product consumption is less than one-third of the world average. Affluent Chinese have a high demand for quality dairy products, and many opt for expensive foreign brands. The domestic industry was hit hard by a 2008 scandal over melamine-tainted baby formula and has been working to win back consumers' trust.