China will send special envoys and a special representative to countries in the regions of the Middle East, the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa in November to promote peace talks and ease tensions, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.
Mao Ning, the spokeswoman, made the statement at a press conference in Beijing in response to a media query about further information of the ministry's earlier announcement of sending special envoys to these regions.
"In implementation of the initiatives and propositions put forward by President Xi Jinping on promoting peace and security in the Middle East and the four principles on the constructive participation of relevant parties in the resolution of African hotspot issues, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun will visit Iran, Oman and Saudi Arabia in early and mid-November; Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs Liu Xianfa will visit Ethiopia, Djibouti and Egypt in early and mid-November; and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Hu Changchun will visit Eritrea in early November," Mao said.
"These shuttle diplomacy visits in this period of time by the Chinese special envoys and special representative are aimed at promoting peace talks, easing tensions, and playing a constructive role for upholding regional peace and stability," said the spokeswoman.
China to send envoys to countries in Middle East, Red Sea, Horn of Africa: spokeswoman
Thai exporters are leveraging this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) to seek new opportunities in China as innovation and shifting consumer demand reshape how Thailand's traditional agricultural products are grown, produced and brought to market.
For generations, families in Thailand have made a living from coconut palms, harvesting the fruit by hand and shipping it far beyond the orchards where it is grown.
Natthasak Manusrungsri's family has been exporting aromatic coconuts for more than two decades. But growing demand from China has transformed the scale of their business, driving production, expanding exports and inspiring new ways to bring this familiar fruit to consumers.
"Almost every factory that packs fresh coconuts depends on China as its main market, almost entirely. After Thailand received permission to export coconuts to China, volumes kept rising, driven by trends and by customers becoming more knowledgeable and health-conscious," said Natthasak Manusrungsri, managing director of K-Fresh Co.
But as demand grows, so does the pressure to innovate. Generations of agricultural knowledge are meeting a new generation of ideas.
For Thai producers, China offers enormous opportunities, but competition is intensifying. As consumer preferences change, exporters are shifting their focus beyond simply increasing sales to developing innovative products that offer greater convenience and bring more value to an increasingly competitive industry.
That transformation begins long before the coconuts leave the trees. Across a network of plantations, precision agriculture is helping farmers monitor growing conditions, identify problem areas, and improve yields, while maintaining the quality of Thailand's renowned coconuts.
Inside the factory, innovation takes a different form. Even the simple act of opening a coconut has been redesigned. A patented mechanism allows consumers to open it with a push.
"Innovation matters for both the farm and production, so we can deliver the highest quality to our customers. So, we practice precision agriculture. And in the factory, we focus on innovation to make it easier for consumers to open and enjoy, bringing quality products to consumers around the world and in China," said Manusrungsri.
For the farmers who tend these palms, the rhythm of life remains much as it has for generations. But beyond the orchards, almost everything else is changing.
And at CIIE 2026, Thailand's humble coconut is showing how an age-old harvest can find new value in a world of changing tastes and possibilities.
Thai coconut exporter taps CIIE to promote industry innovation
