Trucks loaded with imported fruit from Vietnam have been flowing in and out of the comprehensive free trade zone in Pingxiang, where fresh fruit passes through customs inspection before entering the Chinese market.

This is a daily scene in Pingxiang in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which borders Vietnam. Pingxiang is the largest and most convenient land route from China to Vietnam and Southeast Asia, as well as the largest port for fruit import and export trade between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

A Pingxiang-based fruit importer said that so far in 2023, the company has declared imports of more than 80 containers with about 1,300 tons of Vietnamese durian. Vietnamese durian is very popular in the domestic market due to its affordable price and good quality.

According to Vietnamese media reports, orders for agricultural products from the Chinese market have risen sharply since China changed its immigration policy on January 8, with some Vietnamese companies reporting a 30-50 percent month-on-month increase in agricultural exports to China.

Imported fruit passing through Pingxiang's Youyi Port alone reached 27,414 tons and 1,375 carloads from January 1 to 18. The average number of fruit trucks coming in from Vietnam was about 76 carloads per day, 11 more than in 2022, data from Chinese customs showed.

"Through Youyi Port, Vietnamese fruit can be imported through the green channel. Customs inspection can be completed within 24 hours and Vietnamese fruit can be immediately shipped to the whole country," a manager surnamed Su from a Pingxiang-based trade service company in charge of customs declaration, said on Thursday.

Due to the climate difference, there is a time lag between Vietnam's agricultural products and most Chinese agricultural products, making supplies of Vietnamese fruit complementary to China's domestic product cycle, said Su.

At present, Vietnamese dragon fruit, watermelon, lychee, longan, banana, mango, jackfruit, rambutan, mangosteen, durian and passion fruit have entered the Chinese market in large quantities, said the manager.

In recent years, with the deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and Vietnam, more and more high-quality Vietnamese agricultural products have become popular with Chinese people.

With China's complete re-opening of borders, businesses now have many export advantages and can cut expenses. Durian exports to China are likely to be worth $1 billion in 2023, Dang Phuc Nguyen, secretary general of the Vietnam Fruit Association, was quoted as saying by local media.

"Exports of bananas, jackfruit and mangoes to China will all exceed $100 million. Exports of vegetables and fruit to the Chinese market are expected to grow very strongly in 2023, with turnover expected to reach $2.5-3 billion," said Nguyen.

Fresh Vietnam durian was allowed to enter the Chinese market in July 2022 and Vietnam has been exporting hundreds of tons of durian to China every day since the first durian truck arrived in China on September 19, 2022.

According to Vietnam media reports, in October 2022 alone, Vietnam's exports of durian to China generated nearly $50 million, an increase of 4,120 percent year-on-year. In 2022, durian shipments alone brought Vietnam over $420 million, mostly in the fourth quarter, after the fruit had gained the green light to enter China.

In order to facilitate customs clearance for imported fresh fruit, Chinese customs have opened green channels for fresh fruit.

Youyi Port, for example, has set up a 24/7 customs clearance reservation mechanism to accelerate entry of imported fresh fruit.