Malaysia eyes fresh durian export to China

PETALING JAYA: Durians are a hit with Chinese consumers and the fruit's popularity has Malaysia, which is exporting frozen durian pulp to China, hope the latter will import fresh durian from Malaysia soon.
According to a Sin Chew Daily report yesterday, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said not only is Malaysian exporting frozen durian pulp, which made its debut in China in 2011, durian-related products are also selling well in the "middle kingdom".
He pointed out that the export of frozen durian pulp and related products to China has increased from RM4.7 million in 2011 to RM20 million so far this year.
Speaking to the daily after visiting the Malaysia–Xi'an Halal Food Festival Week on Tuesday as part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak's entourage to China, Ismail said he met his Chinese counterpart Han Changfu two weeks ago in Beijing on the export of fresh durian to China.
He expressed the hope that the talks between Najib and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang scheduled later this week will bear fruit in this area.
Najib is in China for a six-day official visit to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China.
He said besides the famous Musang King durian, his department has proposed that China import other fruits such as jackfruit, mangosteen, and pineapples from Malaysia.
At present, the only fruit China imports from Malaysia is frozen durian pulp.
He disclosed that apart from durian, Malaysian white coffee is also selling well in China. Ismail also told the daily that talks on the export of bird's nest to China were progressing well.