Kruuse will be participating in a forum on trade and economic cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries. A meeting with the Chinese Minister of Agriculture Han Changfu is also planned.

According to Kruuse, the primary objective of the visit is to develop bilateral ties to lay the groundwork for gradual opening of the Chinese market to Estonian food producers.

"Participation in the 16+1 meeting in Kunming between China and Central and Eastern European countries is important to Estonia above all for information exchanges," explained the Estonian minister. "At the meeting, several proposals for deepening agricultural cooperation among the countries will be on the table. Estonia sees untapped potential primarily in the fields of agricultural trade and research cooperation."

Kruuse is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart on Saturday. The two ministers will take stock of previous cooperation between Estonian and Chinese agencies. Likewise on the agenda are agreeing upon future meetings as well as the main goals of further cooperation for the 2017-2018 period.

Kruuse will also visit the 2016 14th China International Agricultural Trade Fair (CATF) taking place in Kunming at the same time, which will include an Estonian stand at which Estonian foods will be presented to visitors as well as the region's purchasing managers.

Kruuse is accompanied on his current trip by Deputy Secretary General for Fisheries Policy and Foreign Affairs Olavi Petron as well as Chief Specialist of the Foreign Relations Department Galina Jevgrafova.