(ECNS) -- Kazakhstan emerged as Gansu Province’s largest trading partner in the first three quarters, with bilateral trade reaching 12.26 billion yuan (around $1.71 billion), up 10.6% year on year.
Gansu has enjoyed strong economic and trade ties with Central Asian countries. It imports copper concentrate and linseed from the region, while exporting asbestos and passenger vehicles. Local specialty produce is shipped to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other nations.
Qi Zhiyu, deputy chief of Lanzhou Customs, said Gansu’s total foreign trade value reached 60.96 billion yuan (around $8.48 billion) from January to September, up 25.2% year on year. Its September trade stood at 9.87 billion yuan, the highest monthly figure in the 152 months since February 2014.
Exports of fresh apples reached 410 million yuan, up 16.7%, while apple juice exports totaled 350 million yuan, up 9.7%, Qi noted, adding that exports of Gansu’s signature products continued to grow throughout the period.
Song Yajun, head of the Animal, Plant and Food Quarantine Division of Lanzhou Customs, said premium local goods such as Jingning apples, Lanzhou lilies and Longnan Chinese medicinal materials have been sold overseas. New products including Gannan caviar, Minqin honeydew melons, chilled beef brisket and plateau rainbow trout are entering new international markets.
A ceremony marking the shipment of Jingning apples was held on the same day. The 50-metric-ton shipment, valued at 440,000 yuan, will be transported in refrigerated containers directly to Thailand and Vietnam for local consumers.
(By Helen Mo & intern Xu Wenda)
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