China Agrees to Raise Its Product Standards

MANILA — Southeast Asian countries and China have agreed to strengthen product standards and safety following recalls of several tainted Chinese products from international markets.

China’s commerce minister, Bo Xilai, defended the quality of Chinese goods, saying 99 percent of his country’s exports to the United States and Japan passed quality controls and adhered to global quality standards.

A joint statement issued Sunday by economic ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China, at the end of their annual consultations, said product quality and food safety were common challenges faced by every country. All parties should actively cooperate in improving controls and ensuring quality, it added.

“The ministers agreed to urge relevant government agencies to properly deal with product quality-related cases by strengthening consultations with the view to protecting the safety and health of consumers while not impeding bilateral trade and economic cooperation,” it said.

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