Xiaomi Youpin attempts cross-border e-commerce via Korea tie-up

BEIJING - Premium online shopping site Xiaomi Youpin made its first cross-border e-commerce attempt Tuesday by partnering with Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp to bring in more quality imports.

A Korean imports snack store was launched on the e-commerce platform, while Xiaomi Youpin products might be sold in some duty-free stores in the Republic of Korea in the future, according to a strategic cooperation agreement inked Tuesday.

About 30 popular Korean products will be for sale online including ramen and soft drinks.

Xiaomi Youpin also plans to work with other foreign governments such as Russia and Spain to introduce more overseas products to cater to Chinese shoppers' growing demands for global products.

Official data showed that China's cross-border e-commerce surged 50 percent year-on-year to reach 134.7 billion yuan ($20.13 billion) last year, with imports growing 39.8 percent to stand at 78.58 billion yuan.

Established in 2017, Xiaomi Youpin is an emerging lifestyle e-commerce player selling products made within the Xiaomi group as well as selected items from third-party manufacturers.