Guangxi has launched the construction of the China-ASEAN Fruit Trading Center to create a regional fruit distribution center for ASEAN countries, officials announced during a July 21 press conference.

Liang Jihao, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said that Guangxi is an optimal place for fruit cultivation, because of its abundant rainfall and sufficient sunlight.

As of the end of 2022, the region's fruit cultivation area exceeded 20 million acres, with a fruit production volume of 30.8 million metric tons, maintaining its position as the top fruit-producing region in China for the fifth consecutive years.

Of note, Guangxi's citrus volume in 2022 accounted for 10 percent of the global total. The annual fruit value in the region exceeded 170 billion yuan ($24 billion).

As a gateway for China's opening to ASEAN countries, Guangxi has implemented various measures to promote the export of a wider variety of fruits to overseas markets.

Yang Yong of the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region said that since the beginning of this year, the department has dispatched seven trade delegations to 14 countries to promote Guangxi's fruit industry.

Yang noted that Guangxi is committed to helping local fruit companies find orders and increase their sales volume. Guangxi will also further guide fruit companies to cooperate and exchange with member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the fruit trade.