In large supermarkets in Shenzhen, fresh Peruvian blueberries, Thai durians and seafood from Australia were put into the shopping cart one after another by citizen Chen Aixiang. He said, “It’s so convenient to be able to buy delicacies from so many countries in one trip.”
The rich shopping cart is a vivid epitome of Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation. Delicious delicacies from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are efficiently reaching the dining tables of thousands of households in China.
On August 22, customers purchased imported durians at the Sun and Moon Daily Consumer Goods Duty-free Store in Haikou City. All zero-tariff products sold are subject to customs supervision throughout the entire process and are authentic and traceable. Photo by China News Service reporter Luo Yunfei
Delivering fresh food is a race against time. In April 2025, the governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong and the Airport Authority Hong Kong piloted the "Exclusive Express Line for Air and Land Fresh Products" to provide an exclusive channel for overseas fresh and chilled aquatic products and fruits to mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area via the Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge by simplifying transit customs clearance and quarantine arrangements.
Peng Fuqiang, vice president of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce in South China, told reporters that Australia has dense routes to Hong Kong, China, and relying on relevant supporting customs clearance facilitation arrangements, Australian aquatic products can quickly enter the Greater Bay Area market.
"Nowadays, lobsters caught in Australia are transported from Hong Kong to Zhuhai via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in one hour, and all customs clearance procedures are completed within three hours. They can go directly from the farms and fisheries in the place of origin to the dining tables of consumers in the Greater Bay Area within 24 hours," Peng Fuqiang said.
On November 7, in the agricultural and food products exhibition area of the 9th China International Import Expo held in Shanghai, visitors were shopping for steaks. Photo by China News Service reporter Zhao Wenyu
The pace of inland ports is also accelerating. In November, as one of China's largest land-based fruit entry channels, Guangxi Pingxiang Friendship Pass continuously welcomed Vietnamese durian, dragon fruit, Thai green pomelo and other fresh fruits.
Cheng Hongshuai, president of the Guangxi Pingxiang Fruit Chamber of Commerce, introduced to China News Service reporters the "fastest link from branches to supermarkets" for Vietnamese durians: fresh fruits picked in the early morning are sent to the factory for sorting, processing and packaging, and then "taken" a cross-border cold chain vehicle directly to the Youyi Pass port. Relying on measures such as green channels and full-information intelligent customs clearance, trucks transporting durians can clear customs in seconds.
“Ideally, fresh fruit can be on domestic supermarket shelves within 72 hours at the earliest.” Cheng Hongshuai said.
At present, China has achieved mutual recognition of AEOs (Authorized Economic Operators) with 10 APEC member economies, and customs clearance facilitation continues to advance. A series of operations have changed the shelf time of imported fresh food from "based on days" to "based on hours."
Customs clearance solves the "fast" problem, and admission solves the "have" problem.
"In the early years, we mainly imported mangosteens, longans, etc. Later, Vietnamese durian and other fruits were gradually approved for export to China, and more and more fruits from APEC member economies were granted access to China." Cheng Hongshuai said that some fruits have changed from short-term peak season categories to year-round supply categories, and the supply structure has become more stable.
Each "lengthening" of the access list corresponds to the "new addition" of consumers' fruit baskets.
In 2016, Peruvian blueberries were allowed to enter China, and Xinrongmao Fruit Technology Group introduced them to the Chinese market.
Zhao Fanghua, marketing director of Golden Wing Mau China, said that in recent years, more and more fresh fruits have been imported from other APEC member economies. "We truly feel that policy dividends continue to be released. In addition, Shenzhen's complete industrial supporting facilities, fruit trade, cold chain logistics, and market distribution form a complete industrial chain, which effectively reduces the cost of fresh fruit imports, and also allows this benefit to directly reach enterprises and benefit consumers."
As China's fruit market opening continues to accelerate, China's agricultural imports from other APEC economies will exceed US$100 billion in 2025, accounting for "half" of total agricultural imports, with a year-on-year growth of 6.5% in the first eight months of this year. The continued deepening of open cooperation is the foundation of "Blueberry Freedom" and "Cherry Freedom".
It is becoming more and more open and efficient, and the wonderful "taste" of Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation is hidden in the ever-expanding dining table. (over)
