Asia-Pacific

Thai fruits seen to raise sales in China after Asiad

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-15 06:22

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday his efforts in promoting Thai fruits at the Asian Games in Guangzhou was likely to raise their sales in China by at least 20 percent.

Abhisit said the Chinese government has allowed Thai fruits to be served at reception functions, be presented to prominent guests at the Games and be fed to participating athletes.

Thailand has sent as complimentary five tons of 10 different kinds of high-graded fruits to the current 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Abhisit said he first initiated his efforts to increase the sales of Thai fruits during his visit to China last year.

"So now I have to come here to follow up on this issue," Abhisit said in his weekly national televised address, which was taped in Yokohama, Japan, where he was participating in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.

"This is seen as a joint success of China and Thailand," he said.
The Thai prime minister stopped for a brief stay in Guangzhou to attend the opening ceremony of the Games.

He said the Thai Agriculture Ministry has estimated that the promotion efforts at the Games were likely to raise the sales of Thai fruits in China by 20 percent, but he said Chinese authorities told him that the increment could become even higher.

During his visit to Guangzhou, Abhisit said he met with his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao and has discussed about possible expansion of investment, trade and cultural relations between the two countries. Abhisit did not elaborate in his weekly address.

He said he also thanked the Chinese government for donating 10 million yuans to help recent flood victims in Thailand.