Frozen durian and fresh coconut will be officially exported to China.

The protocol allowing the export of frozen durian, fresh coconut, and Vietnamese crocodile to China was signed in Beijing this afternoon.

This protocol was signed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) on the afternoon of August 19, under the witness of General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping. The Ministry assessed this as an important step forward, opening up great opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products, especially durian and fresh coconut.

This Protocol forms an integral part of the Agreement on Trade in Goods and shall enter into force on the date of signature.

The protocol contains requirements for animal and plant quarantine and food safety. Each industry and each product has different specific regulations. After signing the protocol, the enterprise will be allowed to export goods to your country if it has completed the procedures and met the quarantine requirements of the importing country.

Minister Le Minh Hoan said the signing of these three protocols was the result of active negotiations with the General Administration of Customs of China, opening up opportunities for Vietnamese durian and fresh coconut to access the market of 1.4 billion people. The ministry will continue to cooperate so that Vietnamese enterprises can soon export their products to China.

Durian at the farm in Long Khanh ( Dong Nai ). Photo: Phuoc Tuan

According to Mr. Dang Phuc Nguyen, General Secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, previously, frozen durian was mainly exported to Thailand, the US and Europe with a turnover of several hundred million USD per year. Now, with the door wide open to China, durian export turnover is expected to increase dramatically. If the Chinese market switches to consuming frozen durian, Vietnam will have a great competitive advantage.

Last year, Vietnam exported about 500,000 tons of fresh durian, reaching a turnover of 2.3 billion USD, of which 90% was exported to China. The durian growing area is 154,000 hectares, the output is nearly 1.2 million tons, with a growth rate of 15% per year. As for coconut, Vietnam is one of the major producing and exporting countries, with a growing area of 175,000 hectares, mainly in the Mekong Delta.

The opening of the Chinese market is expected to help frozen durian exports reach 400-500 million USD this year, and fresh coconut exports increase by 200-300 million USD. This will not only bring economic benefits but also promote sustainable development and improve the quality of Vietnam's agricultural products.

General Secretary and President To Lam and his wife are on a state visit to China from August 18-20, at the invitation of General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife. This is General Secretary and President To Lam's first visit to China since assuming his new position.

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