China Promises To Help Address Plastic Rice Problem: Indonesian Minister

Boracay, the Philippines, May 24 (Antara) - Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen in a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Trade Minister Rachmat Gobel has promised to help Indonesia address the spread of fake rice made of plastic believed to have been smuggled into the country from China. The bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting 2015 of APEC, the Indonesian trade ministry said in a statement, here, Sunday. Minister Gobel told the Chinese vice minister that the plastic rice case has consumed the government's attention because it scared the public. In response to the information, Wang Shouwen expressed his concern and understanding of the government's difficulty in facing such a complicated problem. Therefore, the Chinese government promised to help Indonesia address the plastic rice problem, the vice minister noted. According to him, the Chinese government has given a license for rice exports to only one state-owned company, so it would be easy to trace the export of plastic rice. Chine will convey the findings to the Indonesian government as soon as possible. Wang said Indonesia is one of China's strategic trade partners.