In a significant development for agricultural trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the General Department of Customs of China have finalized a Protocol on plant quarantine requirements for watermelon exports from Vietnam to China, effective June 12, 2024. This agreement, signed during China's General Secretary and President Xi Jinping's state visit to Vietnam in December 2023, marks the culmination of efforts initiated in late 2019 to standardize watermelon export regulations. After extensive technical negotiations on pest control and regulatory compliance, the Protocol aims to ensure Vietnamese watermelons meet China's stringent food safety and quarantine standards, promising a smoother and more sustainable trade pathway for the future.