KUALA LUMPUR, July 6 — Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming has propelled “durian diplomacy” by serving homegrown durian to top leaders at the recent Asean-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing (ACMROCH).
Nga in a statement said this was aimed at fostering warmer ties and fruitful collaboration between the countries.
During the event, Malaysia’s renowned durian were showcased to key leaders, including China’s Housing and Urban-Rural Development Minister Ni Hong.
Nga said this exchange signified a major milestone in elevating Malaysian durian onto the global stage, adding that, last year, durian exports from Asean countries such as Thailand and Vietnam to China exceeded RM21.6 billion.
“For Malaysia specifically, the export value of frozen durian to China surged from RM170 million in 2018 to RM1.19 billion in 2023,” he said.
With the recent Malaysia-China memorandum of understanding on fresh durian exports, Nga anticipates a large rise in exports with a market value of RM5 billion.
He also commended the Madani government’s initiatives, which are expected to benefit local farmers.
It was Malaysia’s first time chairing the three-day ACMROCH 2024, which concluded yesterday.
The event facilitated knowledge sharing, policy coordination, and the exploration of mutually beneficial opportunities for sustainable urban development.
— Bernama
