China opens major seaports to import Pak agro products

Islamabad: China expressed its willingness to allow import of Pakistani agro-based products, particularly fruit in the local market through Guangzhou Port, the biggest one in its Southern region. Pakistani products will also be received through Shenzen, another major port city in China's Guangdong province.

Earlier, the import for the food products was allowed only through Shanghai, Nanjing, Qiangdao, Tianjin, Dalian and Beijing.

Southern China is a major consumer market for the imported products. According to sources in Beijing, the decision of the Chinese government to open its Southern region would be a major step forward introducing Pakistani agro-based products in the local market.

The sources with China's general administration of quality supervision, inspection and quarantine told APP on Tuesday that the Chinese side would open the Guangzhou and Shenzen ports for the Pakistani horticulture products. Now a vast market will be available to the Pakistani exporters to sell their commodities, freely competing with other exporting countries. The Chinese side is also willing to allow the import of Pakistani fruits; mango and kinno by road through Xinjiang region.

Necessary tests to check live bacteria and pests will be carried out at Kashgar or Urumqi. Accordingly, permits will be issued for exporting the Pakistani products to China's Western region. Pakistan formally launched sale of its mango in the Chinese market last year for promotion of food business between the two friendly countries.

Pakistani mango 'Chonsa' has been put on sale in Beijing at a local super market. Sale points for fruit and rice are also being opened in other major cities like Shanghai and Urumqi.

Chairman, China's Chamber of Commerce for Foodstuff, Cao Xumin said prospect of food business in China was quite rich. The country registered a 40 percent increase in the import of foodstuff in the recent year. Pakistan is a new player in this field and its businessmen need to work hard to get due share in the local market, he added.

Commercial Counsellor in Pakistan Embassy Shahid Mahmood hoped that Pakistan would export a big quantity of agro-based products to China on a competitive price. He noted that the local traders have shown keen interest for their import. A promoter of Pakistani foodstuff Muhammad Yaseen said in an interview that initial response for the sale of mango and rice was quite encouraging.

'I think Pakistani mango is sweeter and juicer than the mangoes I've tried before,' said a Chinese official Wu Jianmin. 'Never knew Pakistani mangoes tasted so sweet and juicy', said Wang Lie, Manager of the local super store.