Apples in an orchard in Jingning county, Gansu province [Photo by Chai Wangning]

LANZHOU — Gansu province and Indonesia, both crucial locations along the ancient Silk Road trade routes, have deepened economic and trade ties through apple exports.

Recently, a fruit distribution company in Gansu's Jingning county exported over 67 metric tons of fresh apples to Indonesia.

"Since 2013, we have exported 3,300 tons of apples to Indonesia, with a total value of 27 million yuan ($4 million)," said He Penghu, the company's deputy general manager, noting that Jingning apples are favored by Indonesian consumers.

He said that the exports are not only a boon to associated enterprises, but also contribute to the growth of the county's apple industry, benefiting 36,000 farming households.

He said the sales share of the Indonesian market is expected to further increase this year, thanks to optimized COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

China is a major producer of apples. Gansu in particular has abundant sunshine and significant variations between day and night temperatures, which are conducive to the growth of apples.

Over 80 percent of farmers in Jingning grow apples or are engaged in associated industries.

The county grew about 986,000 tons of apples last year, an increase of 130,000 tons from 2021, and the output value is expected to be around 6 billion yuan, according to government statistics.

The customs department in Lanzhou, the provincial capital, said that Indonesia is among Gansu's most important trading partners. With the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, economic and commercial exchanges between the two have become increasingly regular.

According to Lanzhou customs, more than 80 commodities were added to the Gansu-Indonesia trade list in the first 10 months of last year. Agricultural produce from Gansu, including apples and garlic, helps give Indonesian consumers a variety of food choices.

In turn, aquatic and mineral products from Indonesia are exported to Gansu.

To facilitate economic and trade cooperation between the province and the Southeast Asian country, Lanzhou customs has continued to optimize clearance procedures to ensure the smooth import and export of featured products.

Statistics from customs showed that in the first 10 months of last year, the total value of Gansu's import and export trade with Indonesia was 2.89 billion yuan, a more than sixfold year-on-year increase.