A staff member checks honey plums to be exported to Thailand at the Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 6, 2024. (Xinhua)

The honey plums, a prized fruit specialty of Zhenning Bouyei-Miao Autonomous County in southwest China's Guizhou Province, recently made their maiden voyage by air to Thailand.

After a swift two-hour flight, the succulent plums touched down in Bangkok. This batch of fruit exports, weighing just about 150 kg, marks a milestone in the province's international trade. It offers invaluable experience for other local agricultural products that are expected to enter the Thai market in the future, said Qi Fei, chairman of Guizhou Huangguoshu fruit company that spearheads the export.

Upon arrival in Bangkok, the honey plums were quickly snapped up. "I've never tasted a plum as exquisite as those from Guizhou, China," said Farina Tenon from Thailand, who was savoring honey plums for the first time.

Zhenning, characterized by its scant rainfall, abundant sunshine and significant diurnal temperature variation, provides an ideal environment for plum cultivation. The plums grown here, with their exceptional taste reminiscent of honey, have earned the moniker "honey plums."

The honey plum cultivation area in the county now spans over 220,000 mu (about 14,667 hectares), with a total annual output value exceeding 3 billion yuan (about 420 million U.S. dollars), said local authorities.

This time, only a small batch of honey plums arrived in Thailand. Thai national Tassika Rabob purchased 1 kg of them.

"I had seen these plums on social media platforms before, and I never expected to be able to taste them in Thailand. They are truly precious," she exclaimed. Excitedly, Rabob shared her joy of tasting the Chinese plums on her social media account.

"The increasing presence of Guizhou produce on Thai tables is a testament to the fruits brought by the Belt and Road Initiative and the cooperation between governments," noted Liu Dan, deputy head of the Guizhou Chamber of Commerce in Thailand. Liu was invited to participate in the Guizhou provincial government delegation's visit to Thailand in mid-May this year.

"Sour and spicy foods, such as Tom Yum Kung, are popular in Thailand, and Guizhou specialties perfectly align with Thai flavors and the expectations of local consumers," Liu said.

In 2023, Guizhou's total import and export volume with the ASEAN countries reached 16.06 billion yuan, marking a 4.2 percent increase year on year and accounting for 21 percent of the province's total foreign trade during the period.  

Honey plums to be exported to Thailand from Zhenning Bouyei-Miao Autonomous County in southwest China's Guizhou Province arrive at the Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 6, 2024. (Xinhua)

Honey plums to be exported to Thailand from Zhenning Bouyei-Miao Autonomous County in southwest China's Guizhou Province arrive at the Guiyang Longdongbao International Airport in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, July 6, 2024. (Xinhua)