Durian trade emerges as symbol of booming China-ASEAN cooperation

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A worker piles freshly harvested durians at an orchard in Chumphon, Thailand, Sept. 18, 2023. According to data from Thailand's Ministry of Commerce, China was the largest export market for Thai durians in 2022, accounting for more than 96 percent of the total export volume. As the vast majority of durians sold in the Chinese market are imported from Southeast Asia, the "king of fruits" has emerged as a prominent symbol of the booming China-ASEAN cooperation and China's vast market potential. The flow of goods in this regional market has continued to benefit from tariff-free policies and expanded market access under the frameworks of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). In the first five months of this year, Guangxi imported 3.66 billion yuan worth of fruits from ASEAN countries, a marked rise of 194 percent year on year. Among the most notable increases is durian, which surged 516 percent from the same period last year, according to customs data. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)