Thai durian, with its firm, golden flesh, travels from Thai orchards to the tables of Chinese families. It's not just a sweet, delicious fruit that impresses those who taste it; it's also a prominent symbol of economic and trade cooperation between China and Thailand. For the past 13 years, China has been Thailand's largest trading partner, while Thailand has been a key trading partner for China in ASEAN. Thai tropical fruits, fisheries products, and various other agricultural products are widely popular in the Chinese market, especially durian, which has become a symbol of agricultural trade cooperation between the two countries. Since the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held in 2018 as a national platform for open trade, high-quality Thai agricultural products have continuously flowed into the Chinese market. Unique Thai fruits, such as durian and mangosteen, have reached over 1.4 billion Chinese consumers. At the same time, the CIIE has driven exponential growth in agricultural trade between China and Thailand over the past eight years, a success clearly reflected in the trade figures. China's imports of agricultural products from Thailand are projected to surge from US$5,561 million in 2018 to US$10,821 million in 2025. Meanwhile, Thai durian exports to China continue to grow steadily annually and remain a key Thai export fruit to the Chinese market.

The CIIE (China International International) provides significant benefits to Thai agricultural products in three areas: easier market access, access to a large consumer market, and tangible economic returns. It serves as an effective platform for promoting Thai durian and other high-quality Thai fruits to the global market, connecting distribution throughout the supply chain. Simultaneously, Thai businesses can directly access buyers in China, reducing the costs of market expansion and development. Furthermore, sustained export orders generate stable income for many Thai farmers, transforming orchard produce into tangible economic value.

The 9th CIIE is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from November 5-10, 2026. Preparations are currently underway. On July 9, a CIIE promotional event, along with a special "Export to China" Thailand Special Session, was held in Bangkok, bringing together representatives from government agencies and chambers of commerce from China and Thailand. To exchange views and continue supporting the expansion of Thai agricultural products into the Chinese market, while further strengthening mutually beneficial agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

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