Since the opening of the China-Laos Railway in December 2021, an increasing number of Laotian products have been transported to China by train.

While the China-Laos Railway serves as one of the links between Laotian products and the Chinese market, the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level import-themed trade fair, has played a crucial role in introducing Laotian products to Chinese consumers.

In 2018, Laotian tea company Three Six Manor showcased their tea products crafted from locally sourced ancient trees at the inaugural CIIE. The unique tropical flavors and rich tea brew made Laotian tea products a standout at the expo, attracting a flurry of orders. Following this success, Laotian tea companies, including Three Six Manor, began exporting their tea products to China.

In the subsequent years, in addition to Three Six Manor, companies like Gold Champa and San Wan Lao have also presented their ancient tree tea products at the CIIE, diversifying tea options for Chinese consumers. The increasing popularity benefited from the expo has positioned ancient tree tea as a new flagship product for Laotian agricultural exports.

Saysomphet Norasing, director of the trade promotion department at Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce, said that the country looks forward to leveraging favorable conditions such as China-Laos Railway and utilizing platforms like the CIIE as well as the vast Chinese market to promote Laotian ancient tree tea globally and benefit more Laotian people through the tea industry.

Apart from tea products, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in Laos' Luang Namtha province signed an international agricultural economic and technical cooperation agreement with Guizhou An Guang International Supply Chain Co at the sixth CIIE, focusing on high-quality chili cultivation and procurement supply chain cooperation projects.

Since the beginning of 2024, the cooperative project has been yielding results. As of May this year, An Guang International has selected and cultivated four high-quality chili varieties in Luang Namtha, and is currently applying for a certificate of origin for quality agricultural products.

Additionally, the high-quality chili cultivation area led by the demonstration base in Luang Namtha is in the process of applying for inclusion in the list of agricultural products eligible for export to China. The projected total yield of chili for 2024 is over 15,000 metric tons, with an expected export value of over 70 million yuan ($9.63 million).

Currently, preparations for the seventh CIIE are progressing smoothly, and more Laotian products are expected to dazzle Chinese consumers again at this year's expo.

Laos' ancient tree tea products are showcased at the sixth CIIE. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sample chili cultivation trial field in Luang Namtha province. [Photo/Eyes News]

By Zhao Guangmei

Sources: People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, cctv.com, chinanews.com, Farmers' Daily app, Wenhui Daily, Renmin Tiedao, Youth Daily, Guiyang Daily, jschina.com.cn, gog.cn, Eyes News, The Guizhou People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, WeChat account: sitxyh1