PHNOM PENH: The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia confirmed on Monday that the Chinese Customs Administration conducted a risk analysis and inspection of longan fruits between January 4 – 6 with Cambodian officials over online video call, with officials from the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries present at plantation sites.

The Chinese and Cambodian officials inspected fruit plantations in Pailin and Battambang provinces, inspected two packaging factories in Pailin and Kampong Speu provinces, and also inspected the Ministry of Agriculture's phytosanitary and quality laboratories and safety laboratories.

The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia confirmed that the officials from China and Cambodia “have said that [the] assessment was completely successful and achieved the expected results. "

Previously, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, Wang Wentian, affirmed at the inauguration ceremony of National Road No. 11 on 6 December, 2021, that China had decided to conduct a study and quality check analysis of Cambodian longan fruit and pangasius fish through online video conference. He said that this was an important initial measure in response to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s request to the Chinese government to help open the Chinese market for Cambodian longan fruit, made during a meeting with State Councilor and Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, on 12 September 2021.

According to the General Department of Agriculture, there are about 8,000 hectares of longan plantation in the provinces of Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat.

The Chinese Embassy in Cambodia announced in early December that in the first 10 months of 2021, the bilateral trade volume between China and Cambodia had reached US $8.9 billion dollars, which was a 38.56% increase compared to the same period in 2020. Additionally, the volume of Cambodia's exports to China was at about US $1.2 billion, an increase of 49%, while the volume of imports from China to Cambodia was about US $7.7 billion, a 37% increase compared to the same period in 2020.