China Chile protocol chile week Beijing CREDIT China Customs

Photo: China Customs

Chinese red dates, also known as jujube, have had a protocol for export to Chile signed during Chile Week in Bejing.

Chinese customs minister Ni Yuefeng, and Chilean minister of agriculture Antonio Walker also signed updates to the protocols for fresh fruit export from Chile to China by air with option for transhipment in a third country.

Documentation on the next product of interest for access from Chile to China was also provided, detailed as citrus.

“This is just beginning, it is still necessary to penetrate China's entire domestic market, we are only now in some coastal cities,” said Walker.

“The purchasing power of China has increased a lot and they want to consume Chilean fruit. The fruit consumer prefers to eat a Chilean apple in China, because it gives more security; that has cost us 50 years to achieve it and we have to maintain it and that is a tremendous responsibility for what is to come.”

El Economista reported that in the near future, a phytosanitary opening is expected to begin the export of pears from Chile to China.

“Exports from Chile to China of agricultural and forestry products have grown by 57% this January-September 2018 season, compared to 2017,” said Walker, adding that there is still more room for continued growth.

“This depends only on us. We have to do things well. We have to differentiate ourselves by quality, condition, innocuousness and taste.”

During Chile Week special focus was made on Chilen cherries. Promotions were intended to increase visibility on ecommerce platform JD.com ahead of Single’s day which takes place on 11 November.