"China is rich in agricultural products. I'd like to introduce China's red dates and tea into the African market through this expo," said Emily, an exhibitor from Kenya who came to the 26th Central China (Hunan) Agricultural Expo to seek business opportunities.

 
The 26th Central China (Hunan) Agricultural Expo was underway in Changsha on November 15. The expo is open from Nov. 14 to 17.

The Central China (Hunan) Agricultural Expo is the only comprehensive agricultural event authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to bear the title of "Central China." This year's expo has attracted more than 3,500 participating enterprises from home and abroad, exhibiting various specialty agricultural products from around the world, such as specialty fruits from Southeast Asia, African coffee, French wine, Lao beer, Australian beef, and Malaysian cubilose, or edible bird's nests.

The photo shows Lao agricultural products exhibited at the 26th Central China (Hunan) Agricultural Expo. (Photo/Tang Xiaoqing, Chinanews)

The Lao exhibition area saw a steady stream of visitors eager to purchase its original ancient tree tea, glutinous rice wine, and wild agarwood. "We brought pure plant essential oil, coffee, and durian cakes from Laos. More and more high-quality Lao agricultural products have entered the Chinese market," said the manager of a Lao trade company. The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) sent a delegation to the expo, aiming to create more opportunities for agricultural cooperation between the two countries, while introducing Chinese medical devices and new energy vehicles to Laos.

"Previously, Laos' agricultural exports to China were primarily coffee and beer. Currently, the Lao original products such as sandalwood have entered the Chinese market via the China-Laos Railway and e-commerce channels," the manager said, adding that, ASEAN countries and China are progressing steadily in infrastructure connectivity, laying a solid foundation for promising trade and communication.

To facilitate face-to-face communication between Chinese and foreign businesses, the expo organizer invited international procurement delegations three months in advance, said Zhao Deng, spokesman of the expo organizing committee. Besides, the expo provides translation service in six languages, including English, French, and Arabic, to support international collaboration.

"We have expanded our high-quality vegetable business from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to the Middle East. Through this expo, we aim to connect with Southeast Asian merchants to further broaden the export network for Yongzhou vegetables," said Liu Wen, manager of a farm in Xintian County, Yongzhou City, Hunan Province.

This article is from the Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Chinanews