Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sees vast opportunities for durian exports to China, with plans to expand shipments to more provinces to tap into the vast and growing market.
A total of 15 tons of fresh durians from Malaysia arrived in central China's Zhengzhou on August 24, marking the first batch of Malaysian fresh durians to enter the Chinese market.
This batch of Malaysian fresh durians, including 10 varieties such as Black Thorn and Musang King, was sourced from nine Malaysian export companies. The durians were distributed by the cold chain from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen, and Shenyang.
"You see the openness, the willingness to adjust and accommodate our request. Because initially, of course, there was only frozen durian, and frozen durian is of course exquisite and delicious. But when you taste fresh durian, it is going be the super exquisite," said Anwar during an interview with China Media Group (CMG) aired on Friday.
"That's why I think in diplomatic relations, bilateral relations, the issue of trust and respect is important. I feel comfortable to make a request, I mean after our foreign ministry officials, and trade and investment ministries have done their work. So, we were successful. And I think there's a huge potential, unbelievable the interest in durian by Chinese. And I think great future because I think we crossed almost one billion (ringgit). It is huge potential. And that's only a small part, we go one of two provinces in China. Can you imagine if we can get to 10 provinces, then it is going to be enormous. Just durian, of course, but I think we should not end at durian," he said.
Malaysian PM eyes China as key market for durian exports
