(Journalist Li Pengfei, Correspondent Fang Suzhen ) Yichang citrus introduction and promotion conference was held in Ruili city in Hunan province on September 21st, which is the largest inland port in southwest of China. More than 60 merchants, coming from different companies in Yichang, Ruili and Burma attended the conference. Meanwhile, 12 representatives of entrepreneurs signed 227,000 tons of citrus purchase and sale on-the-spot contract, reaching RMB 1.76 billion yuan of the contract amount.

At the beginning, the production history and industrial development situation was vividly demonstrated in the conference by playing feature films. Then, Lu Lin, deputy secretary of municipal government focused on the introduction and promotion of citrus and pointed out that China is vigorously implementing the two initiatives--One Belt and One Road Initiative and Yangtze Economic Belt · Three Gorges urban agglomeration Initiative. On the one hand, Yichang, as an important transport hub, links up the Silk Road in the north and connects the Maritime Silk Road in the south. On the other hand, Ruili, as a pilot area and demonstrated area of Yunan international passageway is not only the most convenient overland passage to South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean but also the important land port of One Belt and One Road. Therefore, based on area traffic advantage of Yichang, we should fully strengthen the communication and contact with Dehong Autonomous Prefecture, Ruili and the other areas along the One Belt and One Road Initiative. And, we will further accelerate the construction of international passageway to provide the highest quality products and the best services for the extensive merchants, expand the sales channels and enhance market impact with all possible efforts.

Xiong Changquan, party secretary and director of Agricultural Bureau of Yichang said that the signing of the agreement prepared the ground for the Yichang oranges selling to southwest areas, South Asia, and Southeast Asia countries, greatly promoting the city’s sale of citrus and increasing farmers’ income.

Moreover, this conference signed the Memorandum of Cooperation of Yichang and Ruili Exit Inspection and Quarantine Aiming at Jointly Promoting the Citrus Exporting to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Wu Pingfang, director of Yichang Exit Inspection and Quarantine (EIQ) said that, for the sale of citrus in the future, EIQ will fully support the export expansion of Yichang citrus, build three service platforms, including manufacturing enterprises in Yichang and export enterprises in Ruili, the Yichang and Ruili Inspection and Quarantine Bureau and Yichang and Ruili government. Furthermore, we will provide better service for entrepreneurs by implementing more preferential policies and more favorable customs environment.