Plain sailing for new routes

Later this year, a new ocean route for the importation of fruits is expected to open, linking the port city of Qinzhou, in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, with Thailand.

Wang Wenyuan, deputy director of the Guangxi Qinzhou Free Trade Port Area Administration Committee, said the new route will further increase China's imports of tropical fruits from Thailand.

"In two or three years, we expect to see annual imports of more than 200,000 metric tons. That will play an important role in expanding economic cooperation between Guangxi and nations in Southeast Asia," he said.