China’s commerce minister met Danone’s CEO

The meeting took place in Beijing, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday. Wang and de Saint-Affrique exchanged views on Danone’s development in China, as well as on broader China-EU and China-France economic and trade relations.

Wang said China was continuing to expand high-level opening up. He also pointed to growth in the country’s consumer market and changes in consumption patterns, saying these developments were creating opportunities for foreign-invested companies operating in China.

The minister invited Danone to increase its investment in China and expand innovation and research and development activities there. He also called on the company to offer more products and services to consumers in China and in international markets.

Wang referred to the latest meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, which he said had produced a series of results and areas of agreement. In his account, those outcomes had helped stabilise business expectations. He said he hoped Danone would contribute positively to economic and trade relations between China and the EU, and between China and France.

De Saint-Affrique said Danone was optimistic about the prospects of the Chinese market. He said the company would continue raising its investment in China and strengthening the development of new products. He added that Danone was prepared to contribute to economic and trade co-operation between the EU and China and between France and China.