Senior Chinese officials attending the 8th Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum in Beijing have called to improve international exchanges and cooperation in food safety. The remarks were made on Thursday.

Zhang Baowen, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said food safety was a global issue with economic and trade globalization, and added food safety could only be ensured with the adoption of unified standards globally.

"Countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative can increase exchanges and cooperation to promote standardization in agriculture and food safety and promote their trade among the nations," he said in a key-note speech during the forum.

Qian Keming, vice-minister of commerce, said the trade volume of agricultural products between China and countries involved with the Belt and Road Initiative exceeded $43 billion last year, which accounted for 23.6 percent of China's total trade volume for agricultural products.

China will increase trade in agricultural products with countries involved with the Belt and Road Initiative, and promote industrial cooperation in the sector so exchanges and cooperation benefit all countries, he said.

Ma Aiguo, chief expert in husbandry in the Ministry of Agriculture, said food safety in China had improved in recent years, with inspections showing more than 97 percent of major agricultural products – including vegetables, poultry and aquatic products – were up to standard in the first half of the year.