In the late 20th century, due to backward logistics and fresh-keeping technology, fruits from ASEAN countries were generally only sold in border areas. Nowadays, cross-border fruit trade supported by express lines and cold chain logistics has already replaced small-scale fruit trade around the border areas.
According to statistics, in 2004, China imported 300 million U.S. dollars of fruits from ASEAN countries. In 2001, China imported 15.22 billion dollars of dried and fresh fruits and nuts, of which five ASEAN countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, and Malaysia) accounted for more than 60 percent.
Thanks to the vigorous development of economic and trade relations between China and ASEAN, Chongzuo City in Guangxi, on the border of China and Vietnam, has become the largest city for import and export of border trade fruits in China, and its imported tropical fruits account for more than half of the whole country.
Source: english.news.cn