As the Chinese New Year approaches, the country's flower market is ushering in its peak season, offering a vibrant selection of blooms at attractive prices.
In Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, auspicious flowering plants such as phalaenopsis, cyclamen, and anthurium have proven to be extremely popular with customers. Flower shop owner Guo Wei noted that sales usually peak around Jan 10 each year, which has seen him stocking up beforehand to meet the surging demand.
"Currently, flowers and plants for Chinese New Year decorations, such as phalaenopsis, cyclamen, and (red-dyed) silver willow, are seeing strong sales at our shop. The daily sales of silver willow reach around 30 bouquets. Consumers like it because its red color symbolizes good luck and prosperity," said Guo.
At a large flower market in Zhengzhou, various types of Chinese Lunar New Year flowers are being packaged and prepared to be sold across the country. According to the market vendors, phalaenopsis is one of the bestsellers, with daily sales reaching around 800 pots, and sales expected to double and peak in about a week.
Compared to last year, the variety of phalaenopsis has expanded to more than 120 types, and the prices of most phalaenopsis species have dropped by nearly 20 percent.
Flower traders in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, are also seeing a surge in sales as the festive and auspicious atmosphere for the nearing Spring Festival intensifies.
"Currently, our average daily (turnover) is between 1,000 and 2,000 yuan (136 and 273 U.S. dollars). Based on previous years' experience, we expect sales to peak by the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, with a daily turnover of around 30,000 to 50,000 yuan (4,092 to 6,819 U.S. dollars)," said Jin He, a flower vendor.
This year, customers are seeking more innovative and unique New Year decoration flowers, with a focus on bold colors, distinctive shapes, and diverse varieties.
"Phalaenopsis is available in various varieties, with imported ones having more colors. Dendrobium is also popular, with more new varieties. We sell about six to eight pots of dendrobium per day," said Wu Yi, another flower vendor.
Chinese New Year flower market ushers in peak season
China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.
In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.
"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.
This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.
By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.
China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.
The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.
"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.
China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting
