Colombian Ambassador to China Luis Diego Monsalve Hoyos said in a recent interview that the China International Import Expo is a "good place" to promote Colombian exports to China, even during these difficult times caused by the pandemic.

Colombia has participated in the annual expo since the inaugural edition in 2018. In 2019 when Monsalve came to China, he helped organize Colombian companies to exhibit their products at the country's national pavilion at the second CIIE.

As a major exporter of flowers and coffee, Colombia's national pavilion was filled with the aroma of blossoms and coffee berries. The Geisha coffee displayed at the pavilion attracted many visitors at the event.

China looks set to become a key market for Colombian coffee. According to the International Coffee Organization, China is expected to overtake the United States as the world's largest consumer of coffee within the next 10 years and its coffee market is likely to reach 1 trillion yuan ($152.69 billion) by 2025.

The Colombian avocado, which made its debut at the second CIIE, has also proved popular in the Chinese market. The 80,000 Colombian avocados that were shipped to China in July 2020 were sold out within a week.

In 2020, the sales of Colombian flowers, coffee, avocados, and crude oil in China achieved steady growth despite the pandemic.

"The authorities, the government and customs in China have been really helpful," said Monsalve, who is hoping that Colombian companies will again turn up in force for this year's CIIE.