Beijing held a durian festival on Saturday, inviting diplomats and traders from China and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to celebrate the growing economic ties between the two sides.
With a unique bold flavor, durian fruit has become a symbol of booming trade and regional cooperation between China and Southeast Asia.
The Southeast Asia's "king of fruits" is now a golden ticket in China-ASEAN trade, as China consumes over 90 percent of the global supply.
ASEAN nations are capitalizing on China's durian craze, with imports hitting a record seven billion U.S. dollars in 2024.
Regional producers are upping their game, streamlining logistics and organizing growers to meet China's soaring demand.
"We are proud of our products and the quality of durian from Thailand. And we cut them at the right time, transport it, and be in the market in China at the right moment when the durian is the most delicious," said Chatchai Viriyavejakul, ambassador of Thailand to China.
Others are focusing on refining flavors, with emphasis on what makes the fruit from their country special.
"Most of our islands are volcanic islands and the soil, the volcanic ashes integrated into the soil to many of the durian trees that gives us a certain flavor, which is not easy to replicate if you don't have the volcanoes," said Parulian George Andreas Silalahi, deputy chief of mission of Indonesian Embassy in China.
With the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area now in its 15th year, trade barriers are fading and partnerships are deepening -- from durian to digital economies.
"We hope, by this kind of cooperation, not only the agriculture can be improved both in China and ASEAN，but also the people-to-people connectivities can be strengthened by this kind of cooperation," said Shi Zhongjun, secretary general of ASEAN-China Center.
As durian trade grows, so does the vision of a connected Asia, where cooperation yields rewards as rich as the fruit itself.
Beijing durian festival celebrates fruitful trade ties with ASEAN
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
