Belt and Road Initiative brings Polish apples to China

The first batch of Polish apples arrived in Chengdu, capital of China’s Sichuan Province, in November 2016, five months after Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to the country.

Then Polish apples entered markets in more Chinese provincial regions, including Chongqing, Shanghai and Guangdong.

The export of Polish apples to China, which benefits people in both countries, is one of the fruits of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Poland is Europe’s largest and the world’s third largest apple producer. Eighty percent of its annual apple output, more than 4 million tons, is exported to foreign countries. Yet, Polish apple exports declined dramatically over the last two years due to market changes.

The Belt and Road Initiative opens new Chinese markets for Polish apples. The apple sellers in Poland feel happy about the great potential in the Chinese market, saying that it is a “historic moment.”

Apart from apples, Poland is the EU’s third largest cereal producer, the fourth largest milk producer and a major supplier of frozen fruits, frozen vegetables and agaric.

The Polish government regards agriculture as an important field for cooperation with China within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

“Poland is willing to work with China to promote building of the Belt and Road Initiative and bilateral agricultural cooperation,” said Jacek Bogucki, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland.

The fast development of the China-Europe freight train services and e-commerce industry in China will effectively boost Poland’s agricultural exports to China, experts say.